This week I want to emphasize traffic safety and to tell you about our award wining traffic unit that has earned the respect of their peers at the state and federal levels for their dedication to safety.

Traffic enforcement is one of the many functions law enforcement provides for the community it serves.  The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office takes our role seriously of keeping the roads of this county safe for everyone to use.

Bradley County is experiencing rapid population growth which is increasing the volume of vehicles using our roads.

On top of that with the change in seasons to warmer temperatures there is usually an increase in congestion on our county roads and a corresponding increase in accidents.  We anticipate further congestion when schools dismiss for the year and families begin their vacation travels.     

Our patrol division and the traffic unit both have traffic enforcement responsibilities. Deputies assigned to patrol have other responsibilities such as serving warrants and responding to calls for service, but traffic enforcement and accident investigation are the primary duties of those who are assigned to work traffic. It is under the supervision of Sgt. W.G. Campbell and they do an excellent job of keeping our roads safe through a program that encompasses a broad range of safety education.

In 2006 the unit received state and national awards for their efforts promoting traffic safety and DUI enforcement, where they placed first in Tennessee.

The deputies who serve in this area have extensive training in the area of traffic accident investigation and several have taken advanced courses in accident reconstruction.  

To get their message across to the public there are several programs we participate in to help everyone better understand the importance of traffic safety.

• 100 Days of Summer Heat generally runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the busiest part of the summer travel season.  100 Days of Summer Heat stresses the importance of staying within the posted speed limit and laws regarding impaired driving.   
• Click it or Ticket is another program the sheriff’s office supports.  Seat belt use has risen but there are people who place themselves and others in their vehicle at risk for serious injury because they are not buckled up.  A person wearing a safety belt is nine times safer than being unrestrained.   Seventy percent of vehicle occupants killed in crashes in Tennessee are not wearing their seat belt.   
• Booze it or Lose it targets individuals who get behind the wheel of a vehicle while they are impaired.  The program educates the public about the danger a drunk driver is to himself or herself and those they encounter on the road.  The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office has adopted the slogan, “ Drive Hammered Get Nailed” for DUI enforcement.
• Hands Across the Border is a partnership between counties in Tennessee that border other states so they can work together in a mutual commitment to reduce impaired driving and promote child passenger safety laws.  We are proud to join the Georgia State Patrol and the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office in this partnership.   

Bradley County has recorded 5 traffic deaths this year. Let’s all work together to make this a safe and enjoyable summer.

Tim Gobble
Sheriff, Bradley County