Lenoir City and Loudon police departments remain focused on educating residents about roadway safety through the use of seat belts and child restraint devices, while asking travelers to drive responsibly.
“You have texting and driving,” Loudon County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Billy Hall said. “You have seat belt usage. We have teamed up with the University of Tennessee to study why people aren’t wearing their seat belts at night. We’ve also done several educational things in the community talking about distracted driving. We’re really getting out in the community and handing out information on why you don’t drive distracted.”
When stopping people for traffic violations, police have been handing out more educational materials than tickets, Hall said.
Loudon Police Chief James “Bear” Webb said officers in his department provide materials on driver safety through the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office.
“From time to time, we have safety checkpoints,” Webb said. “Those safety check points are designed to make the public aware that police are trying to keep them safe. It also comes down to people utilizing the equipment that’s already in their car, such as seat belts.
“We try to help out with child restraint devices,” he added. “The Loudon County fire department has some child restraint device technicians. They have a program for some people that may be indigent and may not be able to afford child restraint devices.”
Webb said the department is responsive to residents who may be concerned that drivers are traveling too fast in neighborhoods.
“It’s a complaint-driven way of detailing the way for officers,” Webb said. “We increase a uniform presence in the area and try to get people to slow down.”
Lenoir City Police Chief Don White said his office works to educate the public by speaking to different community organizations.
“Our No. 1 thing is impaired driving and distracted driving,” White said. “Those are the two things that we certainly want to push to the community. Being responsible while drinking and having a designated driver, and, of course, impairment with medication is just as dangerous as getting behind the wheel after drinking.”
White said city law enforcement enforces driving under the influence laws throughout the year.
“The distracted driving is on the forefront in this technological time we live in with texting,” White said. “The electronic devices that we now have in our cars is very dangerous. I think it’s more dangerous than what people understand. They text, and they’re looking things up on their phones and iPads while their car travels many feet. We’ve seen fatalities and bad crashes due to individuals using their electronic devices in their vehicles.”
Education begins by asking members of the public not to use their electronic devices while driving, White said.
Other factors influencing vehicle safety include speed and following other vehicles too closely, White added.
Hall said police also reward good behavior in the community.
“Chick-fil-A has handed out free meal coupons, and we’ve been using those when students are not texting and when they have put on their seat belts,” Hall said. “We’re trying something different, and the sheriff is trying something different. Distracted driving is becoming a huge problem.”See Kids | A5
