Media Alert: Governor’s Highway Safety Office Joins East Tennessee Law Enforcement to Launch Seatbelts Are For Everyone (SAFE) Campaign

Thursday, March 12, 2015

 

 

Knoxville, Tenn. – Kendell Poole, Director of the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office, will join members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and law enforcement agencies in East Tennessee to announce increased seat belt enforcement and the launch of the Seatbelts Are For Everyone (SAFE) campaign for the region. The event will take place Friday, March 13th at 1:00 p.m. at Neyland Stadium.

 

So far this year, the eleven counties that make up the Knoxville District have seen the largest increase in fatalities in the state. Campbell, Blount, Monroe, and Scott counties have seen the greatest year-to-date differences. Preliminary data shows that at least eight of those killed were not restrained at the time of the crash. While Tennessee has reached its highest seat belt usage rate in history at 87.71%, in 2014 approximately half of those killed in traffic crashes were not wearing seat belts.

 

The SAFE campaign is designed to increase seat belt and child passenger safety restraint usage in Tennessee.  Law enforcement agencies are encouraged to participate in the campaign by planning and implementing occupant protection initiatives in their communities now through July. This is the second year that the Governor’s Highway Safety Office has held this campaign, and 189 law enforcement agencies have pledged to participate across the state. 

 

WHO:  Director Kendell Poole, Governor's Highway Safety Office

          Steve Dillard, Law Enforcement Liaison, Governor's Highway Safety Office

          Lieutenant Don Boshears, Tennessee Highway Patrol

          Lieutenant Gary Kent, Sevier County Sheriff's Office

          Chief Troy Lane, University of Tennessee Police Department

          Chief Danny Wright, Rockwood Police Department

 

WHAT:  Seatbelts Are For Everyone (SAFE) Campaign

 

WHEN:  Friday, March 13, 2015

            1:00 p.m. EST

 

WHERE:  Neyland Stadium at the Lauricella Center

             1235 Phillip Fulmer Way (Gate 21a)

             Knoxville, TN 37996

             Note: UTPD will have officers present to help guests enter the stadium

 

For more information about the press event or the SAFE campaign, contact Amanda Brown, 615-686-1022. For more information about the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, visit our website at www.tntrafficsafety.org.

 

 

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