TN.gov Newsroom

 

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Highway Patrol announced today that State Troopers will be out in full force during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, cracking down on drunk drivers with an aggressive Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest enforcement blitz. To ensure motorists are obeying the law, the THP will conduct sobriety and driver license checkpoints across the state in an effort to reduce fatalities and serious injury crashes. The 2010 July 4th, 78-hour Holiday period begins at 6:00 p.m., Friday, July 2, and will end at 11:59 p.m., Monday, July 5.

 

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve only had one drink; it’s not worth the risk,” said Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “Buzzed driving is drunk driving. No matter your age; if you plan on drinking, you’d better find a safe and sober ride home or your chances of arrest are high.”

 

During the 2009 July 4 holiday weekend, 16 people died in 15 crashes on Tennessee roadways. That’s a fatality rate of one death every four hours and 53 minutes. Five of the 10 people killed last year were vehicle occupants and were not wearing seatbelts. Five motorcyclists also died during last year’s July 4th holiday weekend. Two of the deaths, or 12.5 percent, occurred in alcohol-related crashes.

 

Driving impaired is simply not worth the risk. The consequences of drinking and driving are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving impaired can be significant. Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates and dozens of other unanticipated expenses.

 

“Too many people still fail to understand the severity or the consequences behind driving impaired. It is not an accident, nor is it a victimless crime,” stressed THP Colonel Mike Walker. “It’s vitally important that we bring this tragic situation to an end.”

 

In 2008, national statistics indicate 32 percent of all drivers involved in traffic-related crashes during the July 4th holiday period had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, the legal limit in all states.

 

Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest problems. Nationwide, in 2008, 37,261 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes. Out of that number, 11,733 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

 

In Tennessee in 2009, 989 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes. There were 136 people who were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 or higher.

 

Alcohol plays a big role in motorcycle fatalities too. Forty-three percent of the 2,291 motorcycle riders who were killed in single-vehicle crashes nationwide in 2008 had BAC levels of .08 or higher, as well as 64 percent of nighttime weekend fatalities. In fatal crashes for 2008, a higher percent of motorcycle riders had BAC levels of .08 or higher than any other type of vehicle driver. Fourteen of the 120 motorcycle riders who were killed in Tennessee in 2009 had BAC levels of .08 or higher.

 

“It’s obvious to recognize someone who is not fit to drive home safely,” said Colonel Walker. “You don’t have to be ‘falling down drunk’ to be a threat to yourself or others on the road.”

 

Don’t let this Fourth of July blow up in your face. Remember, Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.  Designate a sober driver before the parties begin.

 

In 2010, preliminary statistics indicate 477 people have died on Tennessee roadways, an increase of 6 deaths compared to 471 fatalities at this same time in 2009. A list of scheduled sobriety and driver license checkpoints for the July 4th Holiday period are included in this release. Statistical data for 2009 is attached.

 

For more information, please visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org

 

 

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
DRIVER LICENSE & SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS 

 

DIST. 1 KNOXVILLE

Friday, July 2:

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   SCOTT COUNTY         SR 63 @ E BAKER STREET                        EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   ROANE COUNTY         HWY 382 @ CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS         EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   LOUDON COUNTY        Hwy 321 & Cut THROUGH ROAD                    EVENING

DL CHECKPOINT         BLOUNT COUNTY        SR 336 @ BLOCKHOUSE ROAD                      EVENING 
DL CHECKPOINT         CAMPBELL COUNTY      TOWE STRING RD @ MUSCLE MAX                   EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT         UNION COUNTY         SR 61 @ TAZEWELL PIKE                         EVENING

Saturday, July 3:

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   MONROE COUNTY        SR 360 @ BALL PLAY ROAD                       EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   SEVIER COUNTY        COLLIER DR @ RAINBOW ROAD                     MORNING

DL CHECKPOINT         KNOX COUNTY          MARYVILLE PIKE @ CALEB ST.                    MORNING

Sunday, July 4:

DL CHECKPOINT         BLOUNT COUNTY        US 129 @ O. RAILROAD BED RD.                  EVENING

Tuesday, July 6:

DL CHECKPOINT         ANDERSON COUNTY      SULPHER SPRINGS & LAUREL                      MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT         KNOX COUNTY          SR 62 EAST OF 162                             EVENING

DIST. 2 CHATTANOOGA

Friday, July 2:

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   HAMILTON COUNTY      HWY 27 @ MILE STRAIGHT                        EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   MARION COUNTY        US 41 @ MARION COUNTY PARK                    EVENING

DL CHECKPOINT         BRADLEY COUNTY       US 11 SOUTH OF APD 40                         EVENING 
DL CHECKPOINT         COFFEE COUNTY        BARTON SPRINGS RD @ NORMADY BEACH             MORNING 
DL CHECKPOINT         RHEA COUNTY          HWY 30 @ MARKET STREET                        EVENING 

Saturday, July 3:

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   MCMINN COUNTY        SR 305 @ TELLICO AVENUE                       EVENING 

DIST. 3 NASHVILLE

Friday, July 2:

DL CHECKPOINT         DAVIDSON COUNTY      3220 BELL ROAD                                EVENING 
DL CHECKPOINT         DICKSON COUNTY       HWY 96 & TURNBULL BRIDGE                      MORNING 
DL CHECKPOINT         MONTGOMERY COUNTY    SR 374 SOUTH OF LAFAYETTE RD                  MORNING 
DL CHECKPOINT         RUTHERFORD COUNTY    HWY 96  E @ OLD MILTON                        EVENING 
DL CHECKPOINT         SUMNER COUNTY        HWY 25 @ BARRY LANE                           MORNING 
DL CHECKPOINT         SUMNER COUNTY        HWY 25 @ BUG HOLLOW                           AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT         WILSON COUNTY        CENTRAL PIKE @ JOHN HAGAR                     EVENING

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   ROBERTSON COUNTY     HWY 41 @ RIDGETOP                             EVENING

Saturday, July 3:

DL CHECKPOINT         CHEATHAM COUNTY      KINGSTON SPRINGS RD @ SCHOOL                  MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT         RUTHERFORD COUNTY    HWY 99 @ JACKSON R.                           EVENING 

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   HUMPHREYS COUNTY     HWY 70 @ THE TENNESSEE RIVER                  EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   RUTHERFORD COUNTY    THOMPSON LANE & HAYNES DRIVE                  EVENING  
SOBREITY CHECKPOINT   STEWART COUNTY       HWY 232 @ OLD HWY 79                          EVENING

Sunday, July 4:

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   DICKSON COUNTY       HWY 96 @ HWY 70                               MORNING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   WILSON COUNTY        SPARTA PIKE @ LINDSLEY                        EVENING                                                                          

DIST. 4 MEMPHIS

Friday, July 2:

DL CHECKPOINT         DYER COUNTY          SR 104 @ U.S. 412                             MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT         DYER COUNTY          SR 104 @ PAKRER RD                            EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT         TIPTON COUNTY        SR 54 HAYWOOD COUNTY LINE                     EVENING 

DIST. 5 FALL BRANCH

Friday, July 2:

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   HAWKINS COUNTY       US 11-W @ POOR VALLEY BRIDGE                  EVENING

DL CHECKPOINT         COCKE COUNTY         US 25E SOUTH OF CHIPMONK HOLLOW WAY           MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT         GRAINGER COUNTY      375 @ GERMAN CREEK BRIDGE                     MORNING 
DL CHECKPOINT         HAWKINS COUNTY       US 11-W @ POOR VALLEY                         EVENING 
DL CHECKPOINT         UNICOI COUNTY        SR 107 .2 MILE WEST OF CAMPGROUND             MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT         WASHINGTON COUNTY    PICKENS BRIDGE ROAD @ PICKENS BRIDGE          AFTERNOON

Saturday, July 3:

DL CHECKPOINT         GRAINGER COUNTY      SR 1 NEAR SR 34                               EVENING 
DL CHECKPOINT         HAWKINS COUNTY       SR 70 @ TOP OF CLINCH MOUNTAIN                MORNING 
DL CHECKPOINT         UNICOI COUNTY        UNICOI DRIVE @ GOLF COURSE                    MORNING 

Sunday, July 4:

DL CHECKPOINT         GRAINER COUNTY       375 @ LAKESHORE BAPTIST                       EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT         HAWKINS COUNTY       SR 66 @ ROCK CUT                              EVENING 
DL CHECKPOINT         UNICOI COUNTY        SR 352 @ SOUTHSIDE                            EVENING 

Monday, July 5:

DL CHECKPOINT         CARTER COUNTY        SR 91 @ POPULAR GROVE BAPTIST CHRUCH          AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT         GREENE COUNTY        US 11 E @ GREENE @ HAWKINS COUNTY LINE        EVENING 
DL CHECKPOINT         JOHNSON COUNTY       SR 167 .1 MILE NORTH OF OLD CABIN RD          EVENING 

DIST. 6 COOKEVILLE

Friday, July 2:

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   PUTNAM COUNTY        SR 56 @ NORTH OF US 70 N                      EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   DEKALB COUNTY        HWY 96 @ OLD HWY 96                           EVENING 
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   DEKALB COUNTY        HWY 146 .1 M NORTH OF MM 6                    EVENING

DL CHECKPOINT         PUTNAM COUNTY        SOUTH JEFFERSON AVE @ DL STATION              EVENING 
DL CHECKPOINT         CUMBERLAND COUNTY    HWY 70 EAST @ SHAFFER’S ROCK                  AFTERNOON 
DL CHECKPOINT         VAN BUREN COUNTY     HWY 30 EAST @ HWY 285                         EVENING 

Saturday, July 3:

DL CHECKPOINT         CUMBERLAND COUNTY    HWY 70 EAST @ SHAFFER’S ROCK                  AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT         TROUSALE COUNTY      HWY 141 SOUTH @ RIVER BRIDGE                  MORNING

Sunday, July 4:

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   FENTRESS COUNTY      GATEWOOD FORD RD @ TINCHTOWN RD               EVENING

DL CHECKPOINT         FENTRESS COUNTY      HWY 127N @ ROADSIDE PARK NEAR FROGGE &        MORNING
                                           WILLIAMS
DL CHECKPOINT         MACON COUNTY         HWY 52 EAST @ NESTLE WATERS                   EVENING

DIST. 7 LAWRENCEBURG

Thursday, July 1:

DL CHECKPIONT         LEWIS COUNTY         US HWY 412E .1 MILE WEST OF MM 25             AFTERNOON

Friday, July 2:

DL CHECKPOINT         WAYNE COUNTY         S.R. 114 @ MM 3                               MORNING 
DL CHECKPOINT         GILES COUNTY         HWY 31S @ MM 4.5                              EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT         BEDFORD COUNTY       HWY 82S @ MM 6.9                              EVENING

Saturday, July 3:

DL CHECKPOINT         PERRY COUNTY         S.R. 13 @ MM 29                               AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT         MARSHALL COUNTY      HWY 50 @ MM 0                                 EVENING 

Sunday, May 4:

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   HICKMAN COUNTY       HWY 7 @ MM 3                                  EVENING

DL CHECKPOINT         LINCOLN COUNTY       HWY 121 @ MM 0                                MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT         WAYNE COUNTY         SR. 13N @ UNDERPASS                           AFTERNOON 
DL CHECKPOINT         PERRY COUNTY         U.S. HWY 412 W @ MM TN RIVER                  EVENING 
DL CHECKPOINT         LAWRENCE COUNTY      HWY 98 @ MM 6                                 MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT         MOORE COUNTY         HWY 55 @ ROADSIDE PARK                        EVENING 
DL CHECKPOINT         MAURY COUNTY         U.S. 31 0.4 MILES NORTH OF BIGBYVILLE RD      AFTERNOON

DIST. 8 JACKSON

Friday, July 2:

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   HARDIN COUNTY        HWY 128 @ ADAMS BAIT SHOP                     EVENING

DL CHECKPOINT         MADISON COUNTY       US 70 @ S.R. 152                              EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT         WEAKLEY COUNTY       S.R. 54 @ MM 3                                EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT         CARROLL COUNTY       U.S. 70 @ HEBRON RD MM 26                     AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT         HENRY COUNTY         S.R. 69A @ BENTON CO. LINE                    EVENING 
DL CHECKPOINT         HARDIN COUNTY        HWY 22 & 142                                  EVENING 

Saturday, July 3:

DL CHECKPOINT         MADISON COUNTY       US 412 @ HENDERSON CO. LINE                   EVENING

Sunday, July 4

DL CHECKPOINT         CARROLL COUNTY       S.R. 22 @ CROOKED CREEK                       EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT         HENDERSON COUNTY     S.R. 114 @ NEW CANAL RD.                      AFTERNOON

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   WEAKLEY COUNTY       S.R. 54 @ MM 18                               EVENING 
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   HENRY COUNTY         US 79N @ LITTLE CREEK BRIDGE                  EVENING 
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT   HENDERSON COUNTY     S.R. 22 @ CARROLL CO. LINE                    EVENING