The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) has successfully wrapped up its holiday traffic enforcement initiative, conducted from Wednesday through Sunday of the Thanksgiving holiday. The focused campaign aimed to enhance safety on Tennessee’s roadways during a high-traffic period, resulting in the following preliminary numbers:
Traffic Fatalities: 7 (compared to 12 during the same period last year)
THP-Investigated Injury Crashes: 93
Motorist Assists: 1,094
Total Hours Worked by THP: 18,122
“This year’s reduction in traffic fatalities during the holiday period is a step in the right direction,” said Colonel Matt Perry of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “The dedication of our troopers, combined with the cooperation of motorists across the state, has undoubtedly made our roads safer.”
The improvement is part of a broader trend in Tennessee. For 2024, the state recorded 5,462 fatal and serious injury crashes, a 6.8% decrease from 2023, which saw 5,862 such incidents.
“While we’re encouraged by these numbers, we will not rest until we achieve our goal of reducing roadway deaths and injuries even further,” said Jeff Long, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. “Every life saved is a victory, and we remain committed, along with our local partners, to protecting every person traveling through our state.”
The THP’s efforts during the holiday enforcement period extended beyond crash prevention, with troopers assisting 1,094 motorists dealing with breakdowns, flat tires, and other roadside emergencies.
Cannon County Schools will open two hours late on Tuesday, December 3 rd , 2024. Director of Cannon County Schools, Ms. Bonnie Patterson stated, “Cannon County Schools will open two hours late on Tuesday, December 3 rd , 2024 to ensure safe driving conditions from tonight’s winter weather event. The safety of our students and personnel is always our utmost priority. We will continue to monitor the roads and forecast and if the need arises, will send further communication of school closures .
For more than two decades, state and local public safety officials, along with families of homicide victims, have gathered to honor and remember victims and survivors of homicide during the holiday season. This year will mark the state’s 22nd annual “Tennessee Season to Remember”, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, December 5 at First Baptist Church in downtown Nashville.
Scheduled speakers include former First Lady Andrea Conte, the founder of the state’s Tennessee Season to Remember event.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Tennessee Highway Patrol Lieutenant Angelia Jeffers-Smith, whose law enforcement career started shortly after her sister Sandy Jeffers was violently killed in 2003, just days before she was set to graduate from the University of Tennessee.
At the ceremony, families from across Tennessee will hang ornaments on memorial wreaths in honor of their loved ones, which will later be displayed in the Tennessee State Capitol throughout the holiday season. The Tennessee State Capitol will also be lit in purple to honor this event and homicide victims.
Pastor Travis Duke from Murfreesboro will provide the musical tribute.
For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will also be livestreamed from First Baptist Church (108 7th Avenue S. Nashville, TN 37203) on their YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/firstbaptistchurchnashville.
It’s a great year to celebrate a Tennessee Christmas. This holiday season, two of the Christmas trees on display at the Capitol in Nashville will come from a Tennessee farm.
“We are honored to have one of our grafted Fraser fir trees selected to grace the Tennessee State Capitol during the Christmas season,” Dawn Gray of Wildwood Christmas Tree Farm in Cannon County said. “It is a privilege to share the beauty of our tree with residents and visitors.”
Blankenship Farms and Nursery in Warren County will provide an Eastern red cedar tree for display. “We are thrilled to provide a beautiful cedar to represent the lovely species of trees native to Tennessee,” Jerry Blankenship said.
Visitors to the 2024 Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair got a glimpse of the fresh holiday greenery grown on Tennessee Christmas tree farms at a new exhibit this summer.
The Grand Champion of the Christmas tree competition, Erin’s Farm, has been growing trees on their land in Montgomery County for years. “At a Christmas tree farm, you can sit by the fire with family, drink hot cocoa, and enjoy fields of living pine trees before picking your own,” owner Linda Hamm said. “Visitors get a chance to see how amazing farming and nature are. It’s a great experience for all ages to be together in a beautiful setting at a special time of year.”
“Families can make memories and support a renewable resource by selecting a Christmas tree from a local tree farm, “Reserve Champion Allen Galloway of Mark 4 Farms in Putnam County said “Christmas tree farmers work throughout the year to provide high-quality trees and we replant each year. We enjoy having families select and cut their tree to take home to decorate.”
To find your own Tennessee-grown tree, wreaths, and holiday greenery and gifts, visit www.picktnproducts.org or use the free Pick Tennessee mobile app to locate a local Christmas tree farm near you. Many farms will open for the season this weekend, so don’t delay, as they often sell out quickly.
Follow @PickTNProducts on Facebook and Instagram to discover more local activities and products.
Thanksgiving travelers will not be delayed by construction on Tennessee roads during this holiday. TDOT will halt all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. All construction-related lane closures will be stopped beginning at noon on Wednesday, November 27, through 6:00 a.m. on Monday, December 2, 2024.
“Thanksgiving is typically the most traveled holiday of the year,” said Deputy Governor & TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “Halting road work during this time will provide maximum capacity on our highways and help alleviate congestion, especially during the predicted peak travel days of Wednesday and Sunday. TDOT’s HELP Truck drivers will be working throughout the holiday weekend to assist with incidents that may occur along the interstates. Watch out for them – move over, slow down. It’s the law.”
AAA predicts record-setting travel numbers for Thanksgiving. In Tennessee, 1.8 million will take a road trip; an increase of 27,000 people from last year’s holiday.
While all lane closure activity will be stopped, workers may be on-site in some construction zones. Long-term lane closures will also remain in place on some construction projects for motorists’ safety. Motorists are reminded to drive safely and obey the posted speeds, especially in work zones. Drivers convicted of speeding in work zones where workers are present face a fine of up to $500, plus court fees and possibly increased insurance premiums.
Get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras from your desktop or mobile device at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 for statewide travel information. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination.
AAA expects record-setting travel numbers for Thanksgiving. More than 1.9 million Tennesseans are forecast to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday. That’s an all-time high for Thanksgiving and more than 30,000 more travelers than last year.
National travel numbers are also expected to set new records with an estimated 79.9 million travelers. The 2% growth equates to 1.7 million more people than the previous record set last year, and 2 million more than in 2019.
These record-setting traveler numbers are being driven by economic growth, declining inflation, and strong income gains, which is expected to boost consumer spending by 4.6% compared to this time last year.
“We expect to see record travel numbers across the board,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “With more people taking to the roads, skies, rails, and sea; travelers should expect congested roads and longer lines at transportation terminals. AAA encourages travelers to develop their plan now and consider travel insurance, which provides compensation for flight cancellations, delays, and lost luggage.”
In effort to better capture the flow of holiday travelers, AAA expanded the number of days in the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. Instead of Wednesday-Sunday, this year’s Thanksgiving holiday travel period is seven days, stretching from Tuesday, November 26 to Monday, December 2. Additionally, we expanded our historical travel numbers to provide an apples-to-apples comparison.
U.S. Travelers
Total
Auto
Air
Other
2024
79.9 million
71.7 million
5.8 million
2.3 million
2023
78.2 million
70.4 million
5.7 million
2.1 million
2019
77.8 million
70.6 million
5.3 million
1.9 million
Tennessee Travelers
Total
Auto
Air
Other
2024
1.90 million
1.83 million
51,283
20,455
2023
1.87 million
1.80 million
50,307
19,077
2019
1.83 million
1.76 million
47,927
17,436
Thanksgiving Travelers by Mode
Automobile travel will set new records nationwide and in Tennessee. AAA projects more than 1.8 million Tennesseans will take a road trip over Thanksgiving – that’s over 27,000 more travelers than the previous record set last year.
Gas prices are lower this Thanksgiving season compared to 2023. The national average last Thanksgiving Day was $3.26. The state average was $2.89. Currently, Tennessee drivers are finding an average price of $2.69 as of Monday. Visit GasPrices.AAA.com to view national, state, and regional gas price averages.
Falling oil prices this autumn may help push the national average below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021, and that could happen before drivers hit the road for Thanksgiving. Regionally, drivers east of the Rockies will find gas between $2.25 to $2.50 a gallon in more than a dozen states.
AAA car rental partner Hertz says Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, and Phoenix are the cities displaying the highest rental demand for the Thanksgiving holiday. The busiest car pick-up day is expected to be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and the busiest rental return days will be the Monday and Tuesday after the holiday.
Thanksgiving air travel is also expected to set a new record. Nationally, AAA projects 5.84 million people will fly domestically this holiday. That’s an increase of 2% compared to last year and a nearly 11% increase over 2019.
Domestic airfares are up 3% this year, according to AAA booking data, while the number of bookings are similar to last year. International flight bookings are up 23% compared to last Thanksgiving, in part because the cost to fly internationally is down 5%.
Other modes of transportation increased 9% from last year. Nationally, nearly 2.3 million people are expected to travel by various transportation methods including buses, cruises, and trains. This category is seeing an 18% jump over 2019, in large part due to the popularity of cruising.
“The demand for cruises has been red-hot this year,” Haas continued. “Domestic and international cruise bookings are up 20% compared to last Thanksgiving. As new ocean and river cruising options have been introduced, more travelers are discovering the value and joy of cruising.”
Best/Worst Times to Drive
According to INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights:
The worst times to travel by car over Thanksgiving are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.
The best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself when interstates and highways are typically clear.
Drivers returning home on Sunday should leave early in the morning, and those coming back on Monday should expect a mix of travelers and work commuters on the road.
With more deer active across the state, AAA is reminding drivers to take precautions to avoid collisions. In Tennessee, there were over 6,500 motor vehicle crashes involving deer in 2020, and half of those crashes occurred between the months of October and December, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety.
“Pay close attention to the speed limit and for deer at the roadside, especially at dawn and dusk, when they’re most active,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Slow down if you see deer crossing or standing beside the road. Deer can be highly unpredictable, and others are likely nearby because they often travel in herds.”
Tips to Avoid a Collision
Scan the road. Focus on what’s ahead and beside you on the roadway. If you can spot a deer (or any other animal) ahead of time, it will give you time to react appropriately.
Use high-beam headlights if there’s no oncoming traffic. High beams help you spot animals’ reflective eyes and increase your overall field of vision.
Be cautious at dawn and dusk. Dusk and dawn are peak times for deer-related auto crashes.
Always wear your seatbelt.
If a collision is unavoidable:
Don’t swerve. Swerving may seem like a natural reaction, but it’s also dangerous and puts you at risk of a serious crash.
Minimize the impact by braking firmly. Hold firmly onto the steering wheel, remain in your lane, and bring your vehicle to a controlled stop.
What to do after hitting a deer:
Pull off the roadway and turn on your emergency flashers.
Don’t try to remove the deer from the roadway. Its hooves or antlers could injure you, especially if the deer is still alive.
Assess damage to your vehicle. Take photos and videos of the incident, which could come in handy if you file a claim on your insurance.
On Tuesday, November 5, approximately 80 faculty and staff members, including all school administrators, district leaders, and School Resource officers from the Sheriff’s Office, completed extensive first aid and school crisis training. Bill West, Safety Director for Cannon County Schools, and Stephanie Alexander, Coordinated School Health Director, coordinated to host the training for members from all schools in the district who hold additional duties of Crisis Team members.
Brittany Laborde, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist, presented Narcan training, which was followed by Stop the Bleed training by Cannon County EMS Director Justin Harris.
The second part of the afternoon involved everyone participating in a tabletop exercise presented by Bill West. Mr. West states, “The tabletop exercise is a perfect way for these stakeholders to discuss procedures for managing a school crisis. So much was accomplished since each school was represented by staff who shared the same duties for our crisis planning.”
Bonnie Patterson, Director of Schools, commented, “It is important to provide our staff with training opportunities related to school safety. Mrs. Stephanie Alexander and Mr. Bill West are valuable assets to our district, and they are reaching out to community partners to help provide these opportunities for our staff.”
The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office wants to ensure that Volunteer State veterans are aware of VSAFE.gov and1-833-38V-SAFE (1-833-388-7233). VSAFE is a one-stop shop that informs the military community of typical fraud schemes, offers tools to protect themselves, and provides an outlet for reporting and recovery. The website and call center combine resources from multiple federal agencies to ensure that there is no “wrong door” approach for veterans, service members, and their families to report and combat fraud.
“Tennessee’s military community deserves all the support we can give them, including when it comes to protecting their personal and financial information from bad actors,” said Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. “VSAFE gives veterans and military families the tools they need to protect themselves without the hassle of dealing with multiple federal agencies—ensuring streamlined effectiveness in resolving data breaches and reporting fraudulent activity.”
Essential resources of the VSAFE initiative include the following:
Launching a centralized website for support and reporting:VSAFE.gov is a fraud prevention, response, and reporting information hub. Information from across federal agencies can be accessed in one place, making it easy for veterans to learn more about different kinds of fraud, get assistance, and report.
Opening a centralized call line for Veteran and service member complaints: VSAFE is opening a single shared call line, 833-38V-SAFE (1-833-388-7233). Veterans, service members, their families, and survivors can call one number to receive help with fraud, scam, and predatory practice-related concerns. Depending on the caller’s issue, callers will be routed to the correct federal agency to address their specific concerns.
Creating common call center training materials to ensure Veterans and service members are routed to the relevant agency no matter which federal agency they initially call: Even if individuals do not utilize the centralized call line, all VSAFE agency fraud call centers have been trained to connect callers to the best agency to handle their report and provide help. These coordinated responses are guided by joint reference materials utilized by agency representatives. This approach minimizes confusion and gets veterans routed to the best support as effectively and efficiently as possible.
The REAL ID Act of 2005, which requires anyone 18 years old or older to have a REAL ID or other federally issued photo ID, such as a passport, to enter certain Federal buildings, military bases and nuclear power plants or board commercial flights within the United States, will go into effect on May 7, 2025.
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security began issuing REAL IDs on July 1, 2019. Of Tennessee’s 5.8 million valid credentials, 1.6 million are not currently REAL ID compliant. Tennesseans are encouraged to decide before the implementation date to avoid the potential influx of customers to Driver Services Centers.
To apply for a REAL ID, customers must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of your Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring a certified legal document supporting the name change. All documents must be original or certified. Photocopies will not be accepted. A complete list of accepted documents can be found at tnrealid.gov.
Federal law requires REAL ID applications to be made in person. If you have a Tennessee Driver License or ID, you can apply for a REAL ID at a Driver Services Center or a participating County Clerk. If you do not have a Tennessee Driver License or ID, you must apply for a REAL ID at a Driver Services Center.
Obtaining a REAL ID is optional. Regular Tennessee driver licenses will continue to be accepted for general identification purposes such as driving, purchasing alcohol or tobacco products, applying for federal benefits, voting, accessing hospitals, post offices, banks, federal courts, etc.
If you are getting a Tennessee license for the first time or it is time to renew your license, the cost to get a REAL ID is $28.00. If you get a REAL ID outside of your renewal period, there is an additional duplication fee of either $8 or $12 depending on your license classification.
For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.
