Tennessee Highway Patrol Launches “TN Safe Travel Challenge” for Thanksgiving Vacation | WJHL

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WATE) – State law enforcement and safety officials announced ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday the launch of the “Tennessee Safe Travel Challenge” road safety initiative. The challenge starts on Wednesday with Tennessee Highway Patrol Soldiers and partner agencies on the roads in saturated numbers – as well as stopping some road construction to reduce congestion.

The Tennessee Safe Travel Challenge is scheduled for Wednesday November 24 and Sunday November 28. Officials say the challenge is increased patrols from the THP and our law enforcement partners across the state. THP has also indicated that if while traveling through Tennessee, please dial * 847 (* THP) if you require roadside assistance. This will connect you to a THP splitter.

Law enforcement will focus their attention along the Interstate 40 corridor. I-40 runs the length of Tennessee, encompassing 455 miles, and travels 2,555 miles through eight states, including North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. THP will continue to be applied statewide on all roads in Tennessee during the holiday season.

“Our mission is to prevent road fatalities, a single loss of life is never acceptable,” said Col. Matt Perry. “Motorists can expect to see an increased presence of soldiers on some of the busiest travel days of the Thanksgiving holiday. It is important that we all obey the rules of the road. We can prevent traffic-related injuries and deaths by obeying the speed limit, wearing our seat belts, never driving distracted, and never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

No road construction

Tennessee Department of Transportation Mark Nagi says Thanksgiving travelers won’t be delayed by construction on Tennessee highways this holiday.

“What we’re trying to do on this summer vacation is stop all of our major construction-related lane closures. So from noon Wednesday until midnight the following Sunday after Thanksgiving, we will have halted these lane closures on our highways and national highways, ”Nagi said.

TDOT Commissioner Joe Galbato said on Wednesday that stopping road construction was part of the ministry’s efforts to contribute to the security challenge.

“TDOT is proud to join our security partners in this effort,” said Commissioner Joe Galbato. “I-40 is one of the busiest interstate corridors in the country; that’s why our regional assistance trucks will be working throughout the holiday weekend to help with any incidents. And to further avoid traffic jams, we will not allow lane closures for construction from Wednesday November 24 at noon until Sunday evening November 28 at midnight. “

Holiday traffic figures 2020

In 2020, there were 26 accidents on the previous Wednesday and 30 accidents on the Sunday after the Thanksgiving vacation along I-40.

One of the accidents was related to alcohol. THP issued 2,209 speeding tickets and 498 seat belt tickets and arrested 111 people for impaired driving. During the 108-hour vacation period, there were six fatalities, three of the fatalities were alcohol-related, and three people killed were not wearing their seat belts.

“Thanksgiving is an opportunity to reflect on all that we have been blessed with,” said Commissioner Jeff Long. “The Tennessee Highway Patrol will do everything in its power to make sure there is no empty spot at your family’s table. We want our citizens and visitors to get to and from their destinations safely. “