When a driver is arrested for driving drunk, one might think he or she would learn from it. And if they are arrested for fatally hitting someone while driving drunk, they would learn from that. Whether he learned anything or not, a Tennessee man was arrested and charged with his sixth DUI recently.

The 39-year-old man, who is from Shelbyville, was driving on Interstate 65 near Cool Springs over the weekend when police apparently clocked him at 101 mph. He was arrested, but he’s already out of jail, according to WSMV’s website.

When the man was 19 years old back in 1992, he was charged with vehicular homicide after he hit and killed a teenager while he was apparently driving drunk. He’s had several DUIs since then, including some in three states. He doesn’t even have a valid driver’s license.

The man has spent some time in jail for various crimes, including burglary, vandalism, auto theft and escape.

According to the Williamson County district attorney, a fourth DUI becomes an E felony under Tennessee law. That typically leads to one to two years of prison time. But once someone reaches four, the punishment is the same.

Many question how this man could have walked out of jail just days after he was arrested. Police say they didn’t have a choice in letting him out. This time, he didn’t cause a fatal accident, but traveling at over 100 mph on the interstate, he easily could have.

Source: WSMV, “Shelbyville man accused of driving 100 mph gets 6^th DUI,” Dennis Ferrier, Jan. 9, 2012

When roads clog up with vehicles, as they did when three car accidents occurred on Interstate 40 one day in late December, drivers are often tempted to escape the stalled chaos in untraditional ways.

But the Tennessee Highway Patrol is warning drivers against using emergency lanes or medians to merely cut out of a parking lot-esque scenario. Patience is a virtue, officers say. Staying calm can save your life, not to mention help you avoid fines or citations.

A sergeant with the Tennessee Highway Patrol says the post-Christmas accidents may have been fueled by puffed-up holiday traffic. But crossing a median or driving on the shoulder can be dangerous. Drivers who use such escape routes could face stiff penalties.

The officer also says that drivers often ignore signs to merge and wait until the absolute last moment to do so. But, he tells WBIR, “It doesn’t tell you to merge when at the end of the road. You’re supposed to merge when you see those signs.”

Waiting until the very last minute to merge could earn a driver a reckless driving citation.

Using an emergency lane to get around traffic can be particularly dangerous, he says, because ditches often have a deeper drop-off than drivers realize. And while backing up isn’t itself illegal, it is once a driver interferes with traffic.

The bottom line? It’s better to bore yourself by waiting it out than put your life at risk with an impulsive escape.

Source: WBIR, “Tennessee Highway Patrol warns using emergency lanes, medians to avoid traffic jams will cost drivers money and points on license,” Steve Butera, Dec. 27, 2011

Evading police is never a smart idea, and initiating a chase is even more foolish. Not only are there significant legal implications, but it puts you and your passengers, police officers and innocent bystanders at unnecessary risk.

A car accident resulting from a police chase in Washington County illustrates the point perfectly. It all started with an armed robbery involving two men and one woman on Sand Valley Road. They apparently fled the scene of the robbery in a red Chevy Cavalier and headed down Highway 81 South. They were chased by sheriff’s deputies.

One deputy farther down the road, near Charlie Hoss Road, was laying down a spike strip across the road to put an end to the chase. Unfortunately, the Cavalier struck him, causing him to sustain several injuries, including a broken arm and possible compound fractures, according to TriCities.com. He apparently underwent surgery and was said to be doing okay.

Fellow officers say the sheriff’s deputy was following protocol when the accident occurred.

The Cavalier eventually crashed and officers caught up with the suspects after they fled on foot. They now will face various charges of robbery, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and evading arrest. The driver of the car who fled the scene was also charged with attempted first degree murder.

A preliminary hearing for all three suspects is set for Jan. 12. They are being held on bond ranging from $75,000 to $201,000, TriCities reports.

Source: TriCities.com, “Update: Preliminary hearing set for car chase suspects that injured officer,” Melissa Hipolit and Lizz Marrs, Jan. 2, 2012

Tennessee is one of dozens of states that ban texting while driving. A handful of states also ban the use of cellphones at all, and now the National Transportation and Safety Board wants to ban all electronic devices altogether. At least, that’s its recommendation for all U.S. states.

The board urged the ban this week, arguing that it could save lives and prevent car accidents. While the NTSB does not technically have the authority to enforce such a ban, its recommendations are followed much of the time.

According to Volunteer TV’s website, one crash that prompted the recommendation occurred in another state last year. More than three dozen people were injured in the wreck, and two people were killed, after a teenage driver texted 11 times immediately beforehand.

The NTSB also reportedly recommended banning all digital devices, including hands-free headsets. It notes that GPS systems and even the radio can be major distractions for a driver.

Even though there are laws against texting in Tennessee, one state trooper says that he sees people using cellphones while driving every day. However, he also thinks that laws discouraging cellphone use have caused some people to stop using them while driving.

One Tennessee driver says that he thinks the ban is a good idea, and that enforcement is important. When there’s a law against something, he tells Volunteer TV, “it’s common sense not to do it.”

What do you think of the ban? Will it help curb serious accidents?

Source: Volunteer TV, “NTSB: Ban all personal electronics for drivers,” Heather Haley, Dec. 14, 2011

If you think new laws prohibiting the use of a handheld cellphone while driving have curbed accidents, think again. Even though eight states (Tennessee not included) had banned drivers from using handheld cellphones as of May 2011, and 32 states have banned texting, the problem of distracted driving appears to be growing, not shrinking.

Think about it: if you’re stuck at a typical Knoxville intersection, how often do you see drivers whiz by with a cell phone plastered to their ear? According to a new federal survey, about a tenth of fatal motor vehicle accidents last year were caused by distracted driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which released the study recently, at least one in 20 drivers observed at any given moment is talking on a cellphone. Plus, one in 100 is sending a text message or using some sort of handheld device.

It’s actually quite possible that there are more offenders than that. NHTSA says it’s impossible to document every accident related to distracted driving, particularly when there is a lack of witnesses. However, authorities have been attempting to narrow data related to distracted drivers. Instead of combining data involving “careless” driving, they are targeting drivers believed to be distracted, according to a CNN article.

With new laws and measures in place, why is the problem growing? It’s hard to say, but experts agree that something must change so that these fatalities can be prevented.

Source: CNN, “Millions of drivers won’t hang up, study says,” Mike M. Ahlers, Dec. 8, 2011