Don't Let Holiday Blow Up in Your Face
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is teaming up with officers from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) this upcoming July Fourth holiday weekend to crack down on impaired drivers on the road, as well as the water. The partnership was announced during a news conference held Tuesday, July 1, at 10:00 a.m., at the Elm Hill Marina in Nashville. This year's holiday period begins at 6:00 p.m., Thursday July 3, and lasts through 11:59 p.m., Sunday July 6.
"All too often, alcohol is part of the celebration, but a designated driver is not," stated THP Colonel Mike Walker. "Our message is simple-drunk driving is against the law. It's a crime, whether you are driving your car or driving your boat."
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), every 39 minutes and nearly 40 times a day, someone in the United States dies in an impaired driving-related crash. The Fourth of July is the second most deadly holiday period-just behind New Year's. During the 2007 Independence Day holiday, seven people were killed on Tennessee roadways. Four (57%) of those fatalities occurred in alcohol-related crashes.
Alcohol and/or drug use is a leading factor in many boating accidents, as well. Last year, it was a contributing factor in 10.6 percent of crashes. That is up from 6.3 percent in 2006.
"Boating accidents on Tennessee waterways dropped in 2007 from the previous year, but it's disturbing to know that the number of alcohol-related crashes increased," said TWRA's Chief of Boating, Ed Carter. "Operating a boat impaired, like driving a car impaired, is illegal. If you are going to drink, make sure you have a designated driver, and that includes one to get you home safe from the lake or river."
As part of the stepped-up Fourth of July holiday enforcement, Troopers will conduct dozens of sobriety and driver license checkpoints across the state. The goal of the checkpoints is to maintain high visibility and either deter motorists from driving impaired or get drunk drivers off Tennessee roadways.
The THP will also be participating in the Combined Accident Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E.), beginning July 3 and throughout the holiday weekend. The initiative, which is conducted during major summer holiday periods, focuses on aggressive drivers, impaired drivers and drivers who do not use their safety belt. In addition, on Saturday, July 5, Troopers will team up with law enforcement agencies from across the country for "C.A.R.E. Across America." Beginning at 8:00 a.m. that day, a Trooper or law enforcement officer will be stationed every 15 miles along Interstate 40. The campaigns are funded by grants provided through the Governor's Highway Safety Office.
"Our strong relationship with the Tennessee Highway Patrol has resulted in a substantial decrease in roadway fatalities over the past 18 months," stated Governor's Highway Safety Office Director Kendell Poole. "Driving impaired or riding with someone impaired is not worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real. As Governor Bredesen has said ‘Don't let a great time be the last time.'"
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
DRIVER LICENSE & SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS
DIST. 1 KNOXVILLE
THURSDAY, JULY 3:
DL CHECKPOINT UNION COUNTY SHARP CHAPEL ROAD MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT SCOTT COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 27 MORNING
FRIDAY, JULY 4:
DL CHECKPOINT BLOUNT COUNTY STATE ROUTE 33 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT CAMPBELL COUNTY STATE ROUTE 63 MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT CAMPBELL COUNTY STATE ROUTE 116 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT ROANE COUNTY HIGHWAY 58 MORNING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT ANDERSON COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 25W EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT KNOX COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 11-70 MORNING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT LOUDON COUNTY HIGHWAY 321 EVENING
SATURDAY, JULY 5:
DL CHECKPOINT CAMPBELL COUNTY STATE ROUTE 297 EVENING
SUNDAY, JULY 6:
DL CHECKPOINT CAMPBELL COUNTY STATE ROUTE 116 MORNING
DIST. 2 CHATTANOOGA
FRIDAY, JULY 4:
DL CHECKPOINT POLK COUNTY HIGHWAY 68 MORNING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT BRADLEY COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 11 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT COFFEE COUNTY HIGHWAY 41 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HAMILTON COUNTY LINDBERG STREET EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HAMILTON COUNTY OOLTEWAH RINGGOLD ROAD MORNING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MARION COUNTY STATE ROUTE 28 EVENING
DIST. 3 NASHVILLE
FRIDAY, JULY 4:
DL CHECKPOINT ROBERTSON COUNTY KENNYS ROAD MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT RUTHERFORD COUNTY CHICKEN PIKE MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT STEWART COUNTY HIGHWAY 149 MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT SUMNER COUNTY HIGHWAY 31E MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT WILLIAMSON COUNTY COLUMBIA AVENUE EVENING
DIST. 4 MEMPHIS
FRIDAY, JULY 4:
DL CHECKPOINT DYER COUNTY STATE ROUTE 78 MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT HAYWOOD COUNTY STATE ROUTE 76 AFTERNOON
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT DYER COUNTY OLD HIGHWAY 20 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HAYWOOD COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 70 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT LAUDERDALE COUNTY STATE ROUTE 19 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SHELBY COUNTY STATE ROUTE 14 EVENING
SATURDAY, JULY 5:
DL CHECKPOINT FAYETTE COUNTY STATE ROUTE 76 AFTERNOON
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT FAYETTE COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 70 EVENING
SUNDAY, JULY 6:
DL CHECKPOINT HARDEMAN COUNTY STATE ROUTE 57 AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT SHELBY COUNTY STATE ROUTE 14 AFTERNOON
DIST. 5 FALL BRANCH
THURSDAY, JULY 3:
DL CHECKPOINT GREENE COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 11E MORNING
FRIDAY, JULY 4:
DL CHECKPOINT CARTER COUNTY STATE ROUTE 361 MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT HANCOCK COUNTY STATE ROUTE 31 MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT HAWKINS COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 11W EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT SULLIVAN COUNTY STATE ROUTE 44 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT WASHINGTON COUNTY PICKENS BRIDGE ROAD EVENING
SATURDAY, JULY 5:
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT GREENE COUNTY STATE ROUTE 70 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HAMBLIN COUNTY BUFFALO TRAIL PARK MORNING
SUNDAY, JULY 6:
DL CHECKPOINT CLAIBORNE COUNTY STATE ROUTE 63 MORNING
MONDAY, JULY 7:
DL CHECKPOINT COCKE COUNTY STATE ROUTE 73 MORNING
DIST. 6 COOKEVILLE
FRIDAY, JULY 4:
DL CHECKPOINT DEKALB COUNTY STATE ROUTE 56 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT FENTRESS COUNTY HIGHWAY 62 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT PUTNAM COUNTY STATE ROUTE 136 MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT PUTNAM COUNTY STATE ROUTE 56 AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT TROUSDALE COUNTY HIGHWAY 25 MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT TROUSDALE COUNTY HIGHWAY 141 AFTERNOON
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT CUMBERLAND COUNTY HIGHWAY 70 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT DEKALB COUNTY STATE ROUTE 96 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT FENTRESS COUNTY HIGHWAY 127 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT JACKSON COUNTY STATE ROUTE 135 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT JACKSON COUNTY STATE ROUTE 262 EVENING
SOBREITY CHECKPOINT PUTNAM COUNTY STATE ROUTE 56 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT PUTNAM COUNTY STATE ROUTE 56 NORTH EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT WHITE COUNTY HIGHWAY 70 EVENING
SATURDAY, JULY 5:
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT VAN BUREN COUNTY STATE ROUTE 111 EVENING
DIST. 7 LAWRENCEBURG
FRIDAY, JULY 4:
DL CHECKPOINT BEDFORD COUNTY STATE ROUTE 82 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT LAWRENCE COUNTY HIGHWAY 64 AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT LINCOLN COUNTY STATE ROUTE 273 AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT MAURY COUNTY TOM HITCH PARKWAY EVENING
SATURDAY, JULY 5:
DL CHECKPOINT LEWIS COUNTY STATE ROUTE 48 AFTERNOON
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT GILES COUNTY HIGHWAY 31S EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HICKMAN COUNTY STATE ROUTE 100 EVENING
SUNDAY, JULY 6:
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MARSHALL COUNTY STATE ROUTE 50 EVENING
DIST. 8 JACKSON
FRIDAY, JULY 4:
DL CHECKPOINT CARROLL COUNTY STATE ROUTE 77 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT GIBSON COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 45 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HARDIN COUNTY STATE ROUTE 203 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HENDERSON COUNTY STATE ROUTE 100 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HENRY COUNTY EAST ANTIOCH ROAD EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT WEAKLEY COUNTY STATE ROUTE 54 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MADISON COUNTY RIVERSIDE DRIVE EVENING
SATURDAY, JULY 5:
DL CHECKPOINT MADISON COUNTY STATE ROUTE 223 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT CARROLL COUNTY U.S. HIGHWAY 79 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HARDIN COUNTY STATE ROUTE 128 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HENRY COUNTY STATE ROUTE 119 EVENING
