FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
CONTACT: ARRIALE TABSON
Mobile:615-767-3242
TENNESSEE, GEORGIA, NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION PROMOTE “OPERATION SOUTHERN SHIELD” ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST
TENNESSEE – On Wednesday, July 21, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office joined the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Georgia Highway Patrol, Erlanger Health Systems, and other partners to promote “Operation Southern Shield.” The purpose of this regional campaign is to increase traffic safety awareness and enforcement to reduce speeding across the Southeast. Click here for photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/uPt37MAFqn4mr8sH9
“Speeding endangers everyone on the road,” said NHTSA Regional Administrator Carmen Hayes. “It endangers not only the life of the speeder, but all of the people on the road around them, including other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.”
For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. According to the NHTSA, speeding was a contributing factor in 26 percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide in 2018.
“When speed kills, it’s never an accident,” said THSO Director Buddy Lewis. “Every driver has a responsibility to follow speed limits, drive focused, exercise due care, and adhere to all traffic laws.”
According to Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network, in 2019, there were 7,812 traffic crashes statewide related to speeding or aggressive driving behaviors; 155 of those crashes were fatal. Last year, there were 7,964 traffic crashes in Tennessee related to speeding or aggressive driving behaviors; 170 of those crashes were fatal.
“Motor vehicle collisions are the second leading cause of injury for Erlanger Health System trauma patients,” said Erlanger Health System Trauma Services Medical Director Robert A. Maxwell, MD. “Factors such as high rates of speed, not using seat belts, and distracted driving all contribute to death and serious injury across all age groups.”
According to the NHTSA, the consequences of speeding are far-ranging. Speeding leads to a greater potential for loss of vehicle control, reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment, and an increased degree of crash severity leading to more severe injuries.
“Losing a friend or loved one to a fatal traffic crash is an extremely painful, life-altering experience which creates a void that can never be filled,” said THP Colonel Matt Perry. “Please, help us to stop this tragedy from devastating another family.”
According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, there were 1,702 traffic fatalities in Georgia last year. Of those fatalities, 285 were speeding-related. This reflects a nine percent increase from the 260 speeding-related fatalities that occurred statewide in 2019.
“Families and friends have lost too many loved ones over the last year in traffic crashes,” said GOHS Director Allen Poole. “We want this week to serve as the starting point for a reversal in the rising number of fatalities on our roads. Speed limits are set for the safety for everyone on the road and selfish drivers who choose to travel at speeds well above the posted limit are a threat not only to themselves but everyone on the road.”
For more information, please contact arriale.tabson@tn.gov.
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The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) is a division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security advocating for traffic safety. The THSO works in tandem with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to implement statewide programs addressing occupant protection, impaired driving, speed enforcement, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and crash data collection and analysis. Programs administered by the THSO are 100 percent federally funded. The THSO’s mission is to effectively develop, implement, and evaluate these programs. To learn more, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.
