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HomeNewsTennessee Highway Patrol announces Thanksgiving Holiday Interstate 40 Challenge

Tennessee Highway Patrol announces Thanksgiving Holiday Interstate 40 Challenge

Eight State Police or Highway Patrol Agencies across U.S. to Increase Patrols on I-40

Tennessee Highway Patrol - THPNashville, TN – Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott on Friday announced the third annual “Interstate 40 Challenge: The Drive to Zero Fatalities” traffic safety initiative scheduled for the Thanksgiving holiday period. The announcement was held at the Carillon Pillars located within the Bicentennial Mall in Nashville.

Colonel Trott was joined by Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons, Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer, Governor’s Highway Safety Office Director Kendell Poole.

Tennessee Highway Patrolman on a traffic stop.
Tennessee Highway Patrolman on a traffic stop.

The Interstate 40 Challenge will consist of increased patrols from state police or highway patrol agencies along the I-40 corridor that stretches through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

The challenge will take place on the busiest travel days of the Thanksgiving period, specifically Wednesday, November 25th and Sunday, November 29th.

“The THP cares about you and your family and wants you to have the best holiday season possible. The THP is going to do all that we can to protect you.  One of the most difficult jobs for our troopers is working fatal crashes, and then having to notify family of their loved ones passing.  I do not want another Tennessee family to feel that heartbreak,” Trott said.

Interstate-40 runs 2,555 miles through eight states, and has more miles in Tennessee than any other state with 455 miles. In 2014 on Interstate 40, Tennessee state troopers investigated 16 crashes on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and 40 wrecks on the Sunday after the holiday. None of those crashes was alcohol-related.

Tennessee state troopers also issued 62 seat belt citations on I-40 on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in 2014, coupled with 33 seat belt tickets on the Sunday after the holiday. They also arrested two individuals on suspicion of impaired driving on I-40 on the two challenge days.

“We want to make sure our citizens and visitors get to and from their holiday destinations safely. This is part of our primary goal of reducing the overall number of traffic fatalities in Tennessee,” Gibbons said. “I am thankful for the support of the other state patrols and police and our local law enforcement partners across Tennessee for helping us make I-40 safer.”

Tennessee state troopers will be assigned every 20 miles of I-40 from 11:00am to 11:00pm on Wednesday, November 25th and 9:00am to 9:00pm on Sunday, November 29th. Additionally, Trott says there will be an increased presence on all major interstates throughout Tennessee.

“The THP is going the extra mile, not just participating in the I-40 Challenge, but covering all Tennessee interstates every 20 miles to help make the start of the holiday travel season even safer,” Trott said.

“The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will promote the I-40 Challenge on its dynamic message boards and will suspend lane closures beginning at Noon on Wednesday, November 25th through 6:00am on Monday, November 30th. We will also have our regional Help Trucks working to assist with incidents that may occur along the interstates,” Schroer said.

In addition to the I-40 Challenge, the THP will also conduct its routine Thanksgiving holiday enforcement campaign across the state. During last year’s 120 hour holiday period, there were seven people killed in seven fatal crashes in Tennessee. Five of those crashes involved an alcohol impaired driver, and five of the vehicular deaths were unrestrained.

“Having an empty place at the dinner table around the holidays can be devastating. For your friends, for your family, please remember to wear your seat belt each time you travel. Nearly half of those we lose on Tennessee roadways are unbelted. It is always your best defense in the event of a crash. Approximately eighty-six percent of our state is buckling up. While that number seems high, the remaining fourteen percent represents hundreds of thousands of people who make the choice not to wear a seat belt,” Poole said.

Director Poole noted that educating the public about the importance of seat belts and the dangers of impaired and distracted driving, as well as the of law enforcement, will make a difference on Tennessee roadways this holiday season.

State law enforcement officials have also seen a 4.8 percent decline in alcohol-related crashes this year, compared to this same time last year. Colonel Trott believes the agency’s DUI enforcement has helped reduce the number of impaired driving crashes across the state.

To date in 2015, Tennessee state troopers have arrested 6,748 individuals on suspicion of impaired driving. That represents a 68 percent increase over the last five years.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol’s checkpoint schedule during the 2015 Thanksgiving holiday may be viewed by visiting our website.  Last year’s Thanksgiving Day period statistical report is also attached. http://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/safety/attachments/nov2015_checkpoints.pdf

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.

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