Tennessee Safe Thanksgiving Travel Challenge Instituted By THP

As you head out to go over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house, you will see someone close by. That someone will be a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper. Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long and Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Matt Perry announced on Tuesday that the Tennessee Safe Thanksgiving Travel Challenge Initiative will be happening today, Nov. 26, and Sunday, Nov. 30.

The initiative includes increased patrols from the THP and their law enforcement partners across the state. Col. Perry says state troopers will be posted every 20 miles on all Interstates to watch for hazardous drivers. The THP will also focus on statewide enforcement efforts on all secondary roadways throughout the entire holiday season.

In 2024, there were eight fatal crashes resulting in eight fatalities during the Thanksgiving Holiday period. There was a fatality every 13 hours and 30 minutes during the 2024 Thanksgiving Day holiday period. One of those eight crashes was alcohol related, while in two of the eight fatalities, seat belts were not being used.

The THP reminds drivers to slow down, buckle up, and don’t drive distracted or impaired during this holiday season. Should you have problems on the roadway in Tennessee, you can call *847 for assistance. That will connect you to a Tennessee Highway Patrol dispatcher.