FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, May 27, 2021
TN CONTACT: ARRIALE TABSON
Mobile: 615-767-3242
NC CONTACT: DAVID UCHIYAMA
Office: 828-250-3029
TENNESSEE JOINS NORTH CAROLINA FOR “BORDER TO BORDER” EVENT TO REDUCE TRAFFIC FATALITIES ON TAIL OF THE DRAGON
TENNESSEE – On Thursday, May 27, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) is partnering with the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program (NCGHSP), the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP), the University of Tennessee Medical Center, and local law enforcement to promote “Border to Border” ahead of Memorial Day weekend. The purpose of this joint campaign is to prevent traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities on the Tail of the Dragon. This 11-mile stretch of roadway spans from Blount County, Tennessee, through Swain and Graham counties in North Carolina.
“As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and summer travel begins, traffic is expected to increase in scenic areas where people enjoy driving with the top down and riding motorcycles,” said THSO Director Buddy Lewis. “The winding stretch of US 129, also known as the Tail of the Dragon, is a prime location for recreational travel. Our goal is to spread awareness and prevent traffic crashes, because these areas can be very dangerous, especially for vulnerable roadway users like motorcyclists.”
In North Carolina, Swain and Graham counties encompass areas such as Moonshiners 28, Deals Gap, and the Cherohala Skyway, which all feed into the Tail of the Dragon. In 2019, there were 10 traffic crashes on North Carolina’s side of the Dragon, according to North Carolina’s Traffic Engineering Accident Analysis System (TEAAS). Six of those crashes involved a motorcycle, but none resulted in a fatality.
“Whether the crashes are at the head or tail of the Dragon, or anywhere in Western North Carolina or East Tennessee, speed, distracted driving, and being unbelted are all driving behaviors that have to change,” said NCGHSP Director Mark Ezzell. “Changing driver behaviors is the key to improving overall traffic safety and reducing crashes. The impact of speeding and aggressive driving contributed to numerous crash deaths this past year alone.”
According to Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN), there were 93 traffic crashes in Blount County on Tennessee’s side of the Dragon in 2019. Sixty-three of those crashes involved a motorcycle. Four people died. Three of them were motorcyclists.
“During Memorial Day weekend, Tennessee Troopers will be vigilant on Tennessee roadways. Troopers will be looking for any unsafe driving behavior,” said THP Colonel Matt Perry. “Drivers should always adhere to the posted speed limit, buckle up, put the phone down, look twice for motorcyclists, and never drink and drive. If you are riding a motorcycle in the state of Tennessee, you must wear the proper helmet and eye protection. If you see unsafe driving behavior or see a motorist in need of help, please call one of our dispatch centers by dialing *THP (*847) from your mobile phone.”
In coordination with this “Border to Border” partnership, state and local law enforcement agencies in Tennessee and North Carolina are participating in “Click It or Ticket,” a nationwide effort to reduce traffic fatalities by increasing seat belt use through public education and seat belt enforcement. The “Click It or Ticket” campaign is running now through June 6.
“Our state offers a multitude of unique driving destinations, and US 129 is a great example that attracts frequent visitors to the mountains of North Carolina,” said NCSHP Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. “As law enforcement officers, we have a duty to ensure that all who share these roadways are safe to do so without becoming a statistic, but we know that everyone has a part to play by ensuring they follow the rules of the roadway.”
There were 5,014 motorcycle fatalities nationwide in 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In Tennessee, more than 150 motorcyclists died statewide in 2019, according to TITAN. In North Carolina, more than 180 motorcyclists died statewide in 2019, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
“May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month for a reason,” said Dr. Brian J. Daley from the University of Tennessee Medical Center. “All drivers must pay attention and exercise caution when driving through areas where motorcyclists are prevalent. The most important piece of safety equipment is the operator of the car or motorcycle. We advise motorcycle riders to wear protective gear, boots, and jackets, because they help prevent painful injuries like road rash. Reflective gear is also important to ensure the rider’s visibility to other drivers. And finally, riders should always wear a helmet to reduce the risk traumatic brain injury.”
According to the NHTSA, un-helmeted riders are three times more likely than helmeted riders to sustain traumatic brain injuries in the event of a crash. Motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 69 percent and reduce the risk of death by 42 percent, according to Saferoads.org. The safest helmet for a motorcyclist to wear is a DOT-compliant, full-face helmet. To learn more about choosing the safest helmet, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/motorcycle-safety/choose-right-motorcycle-helmet.
For more information about traffic safety in Tennessee, visit www.tntrafficsafety.org. For more information about traffic safety in North Carolina, visit www.ncghsp.org.
# # #
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.