Fatality Rates From Drunk Driving Are Down In Tennessee
Great news just in from the website of NewsChannel5 and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Fatality rates from drunk driving accidents have fallen in 40 states, which is a sign that educational and enforcement actions are having the desired result. Several states saw declines of over 20%. The good news for us is that the efforts of the Bredesen Administration, under stewardship of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely have paid of. In Tennessee the fatality rates from drunk driving accidents are down 11.3% over last year.
“Drinking and driving do not ever mix. The message bears repeating especially this time of year,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who announced plans for a $7 million holiday advertising campaign to combat drunken driving. LaHood said states that made the most progress on impaired driving fatalities had been the most aggressive in arresting and prosecuting offenders and using patrols and checkpoints to keep their roads safe.
I say hat’s off to the leadership in Tennessee who made this happen. I encourage each of you to take a minute and give a shout out of thank you to the Governor at 615-741-2001, the Commissioner of Transportation at 615-741-2848 and the Tennessee Highway Patrol at 615-741 5175.
It’s up to you and I to keep this deadly statistic on the decline. This holiday season and for all of 2010 I challenge you to practice safe driving basics by:
1. Planning ahead – Whenever you plan on consuming alcohol, designate your sober driver before going out and give that person your keys;
2. If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely;
3. Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement by calling 911 or *847;
4. Wearing your seat belt or using protective gear on your motorcycle is the best defense against an impaired driver;
And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk . If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take that person’s keys and make other arrangements to get him/her home safely.
If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Nashville automobile accident by a drinking driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.
Phillip Miller is a Tennessee Accident Attorney specializing in
Phillip has an AVVO rating of 10.0 (Superb), has been designated as a “Superlawyer”, and is the President Elect of the Tennessee Association for Justice.
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