Highway patrol starting drunk driving crackdown | News

The Tennessee Highway Patrol wants you to have fun this July 4th, but the THP is warning people to lay off the drinks if they’re going to get behind the wheel.

Highway patrol officers will be out in force over the holiday weekend and they’re promising to crackdown down on drunk drivers.

“We are committed to reducing the number of fatal wrecks and serious injury crashes across the state,” said Bill Gibbons, Department of Safety and Homeland Security commissioner. “This task is particularly important during the holidays. The Fourth of July is considered one of the deadliest holidays of the year in terms of alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities. Our job is to see that citizens are safe on Tennessee roadways this weekend.”

In 2010, 19 people died on the state’s roads. Statistics show that 40 percent of American drivers involved in deadly Independence Day crashes had blood alcohol levels above the legal limit.

“We will be showing zero tolerance during this holiday period,” stressed THP Colonel Tracy Trott. “If anyone is caught driving impaired, they will be arrested. Not only do violators risk jail time, but they also risk losing their life or killing an innocent victim. The consequences of drinking and driving are real – don’t put yourself or anyone else in that position.”

Photo courtesy Flickr user Greencolander.