KPD Prepared For Holiday Traffic

Communications Director

Kristin Farley
[email protected]
(865) 215-2589

400 Main St., Room 691
Knoxville, TN 37902

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KPD Prepared For Holiday Traffic

Posted: 05/26/2005
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Sterling Owen today announced traffic enforcement measures for the Memorial Day Holiday weekend. The special traffic enforcement campaign will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 27, 2005 and conclude at Midnight on Monday, May 30, 2005.

Chief Owen said throughout the eighty-hour enforcement period, officers will focus on motorists who are speeding, driving recklessly, or who are driving while impaired. Officers will also cite motorists who are driving while unrestrained.

Chief Owen said, "We want to make certain that motorists and their passengers are safe as we kickoff the official beginning of the summer driving season. To accomplish this goal, our officers will be out in force looking for drivers who choose to disobey traffic laws."

This Memorial Day weekend will be the first holiday travel period to incorporate TDOT's SMARTWAY program. Through the manned transportation management system, travel delays should be kept to a minimum.

During the 2004 Memorial Day traffic enforcement campaign, officers issued 945 traffic related citations. Officers also investigated 65 auto crashes with 17 of those resulting in injuries. The last fatality recorded during the Memorial Day holiday weekend occurred in 2001.

Chief Owen said, "The department has been very successful in previous holiday traffic campaigns. Our officers will continue with their mission to make the streets of Knoxville as safe as possible for residents and visitors traveling through our city."

"We do urge motorists to do their part by slowing down, buckling their seatbelt and by not driving while impaired," said Chief Owen.