NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Transportation officials are taking steps to try to curb the number of traffic fatalities in Tennessee.
As of Oct. 17, they say there have been 800 people killed on Tennessee roadways in 2013. That's about the same number of fatalities around this time last year.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Colonel Tracy Trott says there’s been a recent spike in the number of highway deaths.
“The first five months of the year, we were really on a record setting pace to have one of the lowest years in the history of Tennessee. Then the last three, three-and-a-half months, have really been pretty deadly.”
Trott says the THP will step up DUI, seat belt, and reckless driving enforcement efforts during the upcoming holiday travel season.
In addition, the state will once again begin displaying daily traffic fatality figures on highway message boards across Tennessee.