The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and Tennessee Highway Patrol have announced a decline in traffic fatalities during this year’s Memorial Day holiday period. Preliminary figures indicate eight people were killed in traffic crashes on state roadways during the 78-hour holiday enforcement, which ran from 6 p.m., Friday, May 24 through 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 27.

The eight vehicular fatalities is a drop from the 16 deaths that occurred during the 2012 Memorial Day period. This year’s holiday traffic deaths included five vehicle occupants, one bicyclist and two motorcyclists. Two of the five vehicle occupants were not wearing safety restraints and three of the fatalities were alcohol-related.

Overall, year-to-date preliminary data indicate 353 people have died on Tennessee roadways, compared to 412 fatalities this same time period last year. That’s a decrease of 59 traffic fatalities.

 

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Tennessee Department of Safety
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