Four more people lost their lives due to traffic crashes this year than the same time last year in Rutherford County.
That’s why Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office deputies are joining the Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s “More Cops More Stops” event for the next two weekends with other law enforcement agencies statewide to reduce serious traffic crashes and fatalities.
Deputies will focus on motorists who speed, drive impaired or fail to wear a seat belt, said Patrol Capt. David Hailey. They will concentrate on roads with multiple traffic crashes and areas where drivers tend to speed.
“We are taking a proactive approach toward the fatalities of Rutherford County with the ‘More Cops, More Stops’ program,” Hailey said. “With more visibility, we hope to reduce traffic crashes.”
Sheriff Robert Arnold said he wants people to be safe while driving in Rutherford County .
“We are teaming with other state and local law enforcement officials on this special ‘More Cops More Stops’ campaign to strongly enforce our most basic and important highway safety laws,” Sheriff Arnold said.
Tony Burnett, GHSO law enforcement liaison, said the state agency will pay overtime for deputies on the enhanced traffic enforcement.
“With your fatalities on the increase, this is a way to reduce fatalities in the state of Tennessee and Rutherford County ,” Burnett said. “We believe the early spring has prompted more traffic-related accidents, including fatalities.”
Sixty-nine percent of 18-to-34-year-old passenger vehicle occupants killed in Tennessee crashes during 2009 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
Nearly one-third of those killed on Tennessee ’s highways during 2009 involved drivers or motorcycle operators with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or above at the time of the deadly crash.
Tennessee is teaming with the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on this important national demonstration project, as one of only two states, to test the effectiveness of a new combined high visibility enforcement campaign designed to reduce drunk driving, boost seat belt use, and reduce speeding and distracted driving, particularly among young adult males.
Research and fatal crash statistics show that young adult males are most likely to practice high-risk behaviors while driving, such as not wearing seat belts and/or drinking and driving.