Four people have lost their lives in fatal crashes on DeKalb County roads in 2015. That’s up from three in 2014.
Two of the fatalities occurred in April. The others died in July and October.
83 year old Robbie D. Taylor of Smithville died in a two vehicle crash Monday afternoon, April 6 at the intersection of Highways 70 and 83 near Kilgore’s Restaurant.
72 year old Edgar Louis Madewell of McMinnville was killed and three other people were injured in a three vehicle wreck Tuesday, April 21 on Highway 56 just south of the Magness Road intersection.
66 year old Floyd Tilley of Woodbury lost his life in a motorcycle crash late Wednesday night, July 15. He was traveling south on Short Mountain Highway near Lee Braswell Road when he left the road and struck a utility pole.
31 year old Tacy Hendrixson of Smithville died in a pickup truck accident Wednesday, October 28 on the Old Blue Springs Road.
Commissioner Bill Gibbons of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOS&HS), Colonel Tracy Trott of the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John Schroer and Governor’s Highway Safety Office (GHSO) Director Kendell Poole have announced the increase in seat belt fines as an effective additional tool to curb traffic fatalities in the state.
The State Legislature approved a bill during the 2015 session. As of January 1st, 2016 the fine for seat belt violations will more than double. The fine for a first offense seat belt violation will be raised to $25.00 and the second and subsequent offense will be $50.00.
“So far this year, state troopers have issued over 107,000 seat belt citations,” Commissioner Bill Gibbons said. “That is a 255 percent increase over the same time period in 2010. We will continue to make this a priority, but we hope the day will come when it is difficult for a state trooper to find a motorist not wearing a seat belt. We hope the tougher fines will encourage motorists to obey the law.”
Along with announcing the seatbelt fine increase, The TDOS&HS today announced a reminder that THP will be out in force during the holiday period to ensure travelers reach their destination safely. State troopers will focus their attention on traffic violations that place motorists in jeopardy, such as distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving and lack of seat belt usage. The holiday enforcement period will begin at 12:01 a.m. on December 24th and conclude at midnight on December 27th.
The holiday season is one of the deadliest and most dangerous times of the year due to an increase in impaired driving. The THP will utilize several enforcement tools, including saturation patrols, bar and tavern checks, and driver license and sobriety checkpoints to help reduce serious injury and fatal crashes over the holiday season.
“We care about you and your safety,” Colonel Tracy Trott said. “What we are hoping to accomplish with the fine increase is a heightened sense of awareness among our motorists. The best safety tool that a driver or passenger has while riding in a vehicle is to wear his or injured or killed in a car crash. Wearing a seat belt is the most effective way to prevent death and serious injury in a crash. One life lost due to not wearing a seat belt is one life to many.”
HOLIDAY ENFORCEMENT
Designating a sober driver and not letting friends drive drunk are just two of the several simple steps to help avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for impaired driving. Important tips include:
• Whenever you plan on consuming alcohol, designate your sober driver before going out and give that person your keys;
• If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely;
• Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to the Tennessee Highway Patrol by dialing *THP;
• Wear your seat belt or use protective gear on your motorcycle as your best defense against an impaired driver; and
• Remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take the person’s keys and help him or her make other arrangements.
“We are very thankful for the friendships and partnerships that TDOT has with the Department of Safety and our state troopers,” Commissioner John Schroer said. “We understand that it takes all hands on deck to ensure a safer Tennessee, and the seat belt fine increase will help state troopers and local law enforcement in their efforts”.
TDOT will be suspending lane closures beginning at midnight on Wednesday, December 23rd until 9:00 a.m. on Monday, January 4th.
During the 2014 Christmas holiday, seven people were killed on Tennessee roadways in seven fatal crashes. Alcohol was involved in 71.4 percent of those crashes, and three of the six vehicle occupants killed were not wearing seat belts. There was also one pedestrian killed during the 96-hour holiday period.
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