The Tennessee Highway Patrol ( THP ) is the State Patrol organization for the U.S. state of Tennessee , responsible for enforcing all federal and state laws relating to traffic on the state's federal and state highways. The agency was created to protect the lives, property, and constitutional rights of people in Tennessee. The THP is a division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security .
33-549: The Tennessee Highway Patrol provides assistance to motorists who need help. It investigates traffic accidents involving property damage , personal injury , or death. The agency works with prosecutors in the prosecution of cases in which the use of drugs or alcohol contributed to accidents causing personal injury or fatalities. In addition to traffic law enforcement, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has responsibility in criminal interdiction, which involves
66-845: A certificate that proves the vehicle is safe and roadworthy . Also, it needs to have a minimum of third party insurance . Drivers may be required to take lessons with an approved driving instructor (or are strongly encouraged to do so) and must pass a driving test before being granted a license. Almost all countries allow all adults with good vision and health to apply to take a driving test and, if successful, to drive on public roads. In many countries, even after passing one's driving test, new drivers are initially subject to special restrictions under graduated driver licensing rules. For example, in Australia, novice drivers are required to carry "P" ("provisional") plates, while in New Zealand it
99-535: A locomobile , to the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire in the United States to generate publicity for their automobile. The 7.6-mile (12.2 km) journey took over two hours (not counting time to add more water); the descent was accomplished by putting the engine in low gear and much braking. Driving in traffic is more than just knowing how to operate the mechanisms which control
132-606: A driver's mental skills. Safety concerns in driving include poor road conditions, low visibility, texting while driving , speeding , impaired driving , sleep-deprived driving , and reckless driving . Laws regarding driving, driver licensing , and vehicle registration vary between jurisdictions. Most countries have laws against driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Some countries impose annual renewals or point systems for driver's licenses to maintain road safety. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.35 million people are killed each year in road traffic; it
165-558: A focus on truck traffic violations. Troop S in District 3 conducts all the below programs in addition to the D.A.R.E. program : The Special Operations Unit of the Tennessee Highway Patrol consists of four specialized sections: The design of the shoulder patch of the THP is unique, as it is the only State Police shoulder patch to identify the admittance of the state into the Union. Tennessee
198-460: A presence in each of Tennessee's 95 counties . The Criminal Investigation Division of the Tennessee Highway Patrol investigates, gathers evidence, and assists federal, state, and local law enforcement, when requested. It also handles background checks for handgun carry permits. The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division of the Tennessee Highway Patrol inspects commercial vehicles and driver logs, weighs commercial vehicles, and patrols highways with
231-586: A traumatic brain injury). Some jurisdictions implement road space rationing , where vehicles are banned from driving on certain days depending on a variety of criteria, most commonly the letters and digits in their vehicle registration plate . A few countries banned women driving in the past. In Oman , women were not allowed to drive until 1970. In Saudi Arabia , women were not issued driving licenses until 2018. Saudi women had periodically staged driving protests against these restrictions and in September 2017,
264-405: Is a high rate of injury and death caused by motor vehicle accidents that involve teenage drivers. There is evidence that the less teenagers drive, the risk of injury drops. There is a lack of evidence as to whether educational interventions to promote active transport and share information about the risks, cost, and stresses involved with driving are effective at reducing or delaying car driving in
297-411: Is called restricted (R). Many U.S. states now issue graduated drivers' licenses to novice minors. While graduated driver licensing rules vary between jurisdictions, typical restrictions include newly licensed minors not being permitted to drive or operate a motorized vehicle at night or with a passenger other than family members, zero blood alcohol, and limited power-to-weight ratio of the vehicle. It
330-418: Is organized into eight districts, which have a district headquarters, a varying number of troops, and county facilities. The table below indicates the district, the troops in each region, the counties in each district and troop, and the locations of the district headquarters and inspection facilities (called scale complexes). With the extensive coverage of THP facilities, the Tennessee Highway Patrol therefore has
363-423: Is possible for a driver to be suspended or disqualified (banned) from driving, either for a short time or permanently. This is usually in response to a serious traffic offence (for example, causing death due to drink driving), repeated minor traffic offences (for example, accruing too many demerit points for speeding), or for a specific medical condition which prevents driving, pending a future assessment (for example,
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#1732772865353396-667: Is the Glock Model 45 chambered in 9x19mm. Also THP troopers wear bulletproof vests under their uniform shirt. Less lethal weapons issued to troopers include OC Pepper Spray and the Expandable Straight Baton.Troopers are also issued the Glock model 43x as a backup weapon. In 2023, the Tennessee Highway Patrol began fielding the Axon Taser X7 for duty use. Since the organization was established, 44 members of
429-625: Is the leading cause of death for people age 5 to 29. The origin of the term driver , as recorded from the 15th century, refers to the occupation of driving working animals , especially pack horses or draft horses . The verb to drive in origin means "to force to move, to impel by physical force". It is first recorded of electric railway drivers in 1889 and of a motor-car driver in 1896. Early alternatives were motorneer , motor-man , motor-driver or motorist . French favors " conducteur " (the English equivalent, " conductor ", being used—from
462-485: Is worn at the base of the hat. The THP utilizes a unique duty belt. Instead of the standard 2 + 1 ⁄ 4 -inch-wide (5.7 cm) duty belt worn by most agencies, the THP utilizes a 3-inch-wide (7.6 cm) clarino (Patent High Gloss) leather duty belt, creating a distinctive look. All other accessories on the belt are also clarino and feature hidden snap closures. The belt buckle is silver for troopers and gold for higher ranks. The issued sidearm for THP Troopers
495-507: The Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals standardises road signs, traffic lights and road markings to improve safety. The rules of the road, driver licensing and vehicle registration schemes vary considerably between jurisdictions, as do laws imposing criminal responsibility for negligent driving , vehicle safety inspections and compulsory insurance . Most countries also have differing laws against driving while under
528-472: The influence of alcohol or other drugs . Aggressive driving and road rage have become problems for drivers in some areas. Some countries require annual renewal of the driver's license. This may require getting through another driving test or vision screening test to get recertified. Also, some countries use a points system for the driver's license. Both techniques (annual renewal with tests, points system) may or may not improve road safety compared to when
561-497: The rules of the road . Driving over a long distance is referred to as a road trip . In many countries, knowledge of the rules of the road, both practical and theoretical, is assessed with a driving test(s), and those who pass are issued with a driving license . A driver must have physical skills to be able to control direction, acceleration, and deceleration. For motor vehicles, the detailed tasks include: Avoiding or successfully handling an emergency driving situation can involve
594-408: The 15th century. Its meaning has changed from primarily driving working animals in the 15th century to automobiles in the 1800s. Driving skills have also developed since the 15th century, with physical, mental and safety skills being required to drive. This evolution of the skills required to drive have been accompanied by the introduction of driving laws which relate not only to the driver but also to
627-422: The 1830s—not of the driver but of the person in charge of passengers and collecting fares), while German influenced areas adopted Fahrer (used of coach-drivers in the 18th century, but shortened about 1900 from the compound Kraftwagenfahrer ), and the verbs führen , lenken , steuern —all with a meaning "steer, guide, navigate"—translating to conduire . The world's first long-distance road trip by automobile
660-530: The Tennessee Highway Patrol became the first police agency in the United States to utilize helicopters in patrol work. The THP is headquartered in Nashville , the state capital. The agency's field operations are organized geographically into eight districts, each with a district headquarters and a varying number of troops (stations that are usually grouped with adjacent counties). As of September 2007,
693-468: The Tennessee Highway Patrol have died in the line of duty. Motorist Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle , including cars , motorcycles , trucks , and buses . A driver's permission to drive on public highways is granted based on a set of conditions being met, and drivers are required to follow the established road and traffic laws in the location they are driving. The word "driving" has etymology dating back to
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#1732772865353726-650: The Tennessee Highway Patrol was authorized to have up to 947 commissioned troopers. The Tennessee Highway Patrol operates six inspection sites around the state, in Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7. The Tennessee Highway Patrol's enforcement activities at the inspection sites, also called scale complexes, include inspections of commercial vehicles and driver logs , highway patrols with a focus on traffic violations by trucks, and weighing of commercial vehicles, both at permanent inspection stations on Interstate highways and with portable scales. The Tennessee Highway Patrol
759-454: The collars of both seasonal uniform shirts. The uniform pant is forest green with a wide black stripe. The uniform hat is a forest green campaign style hat. A felt version is worn with the winter uniform while a straw version is worn with the summer uniform. A miniaturized version of the breast badge is worn as a hat badge while higher ranks display their insignia of rank on the uniform hat. A silver or gold (Depending on Rank) cord with acorns
792-494: The driveability of a car. The term "driver" originated in the 15th century, referring to the occupation of driving working animals such as pack or draft horses . It later applied to electric railway drivers in 1889 and motor-car drivers in 1896. The world's first long-distance road trip by automobile was in 1888, when Bertha Benz drove a Benz Patent-Motorwagen from Mannheim to Pforzheim , Germany. Driving requires both physical and mental skills, as well as an understanding of
825-521: The driver is not continuously or annually evaluated. Car ownership does not require a driver's license at all. As such, even with a withdrawn driver's license , former drivers are still legally allowed to possess a car and thus have access to it. In the USA, between 1993 and 1997 13.8% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes had no driver's license. In some countries (such as the UK), the car itself needs have
858-540: The following skills: Distractions can compromise a driver's mental skills, as can any altered state of consciousness . One study on the subject of mobile phones and driving safety concluded that, after controlling for driving difficulty and time on task, drivers talking on a phone exhibited greater impairment than drivers who were suffering from alcohol intoxication. In the US "During daylight hours, approximately 481,000 drivers are using cell phones while driving according to
891-595: The publication on the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. Another survey indicated that music could adversely affect a driver's concentration." Seizure disorders and Alzheimer's disease are among the leading medical causes of mental impairment among drivers in the United States and Europe. Whether or not physicians should be allowed, or even required, to report such conditions to state authorities, remains highly controversial. Safety issues in driving include: There
924-500: The rules of the road. In many countries, drivers must pass practical and theoretical driving tests to obtain a driving license. Physical skills required for driving include proper hand placement, gear shifting, pedal operation, steering , braking , and operation of ancillary devices. Mental skills involve hazard awareness, decision-making, evasive maneuvering, and understanding vehicle dynamics . Distractions , altered states of consciousness , and certain medical conditions can impair
957-528: The suppression of narcotics on the state's roads and highways, including Interstate Highways . It is the agency responsible for conducting background checks on applicants for permits to carry handguns . The Tennessee Highway Patrol came into existence on December 14, 1929, to replace the unpopular Tennessee State Police Force, which had been created in 1926 and had been patterned after the Texas Rangers to obtain fees and taxes from citizens. In 1957,
990-517: The teenage years. Driveability of a vehicle means the smooth delivery of power, as demanded by the driver. Typical causes of driveability degradation are rough idling , misfiring , surging , hesitation , or insufficient power. Drivers are subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are driving. Some jurisdictions submit to some or all of the requirements of the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949. Additionally,
1023-422: The vehicle; it requires knowing how to apply the rules of the road (which ensure safe and efficient sharing with other users). An effective driver also has an intuitive understanding of the basics of vehicle handling and can drive responsibly. Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding , such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey
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1056-712: Was in August 1888, when Bertha Benz , wife of Benz Patent-Motorwagen inventor Karl Benz , drove 66 mi (106 km) from Mannheim to Pforzheim , Germany , and returned, in the third experimental Benz motor car, which had a maximum speed of 10 mph (16 km/h), with her two teenage sons Richard and Eugen but without the consent and knowledge of her husband. She had said she wanted to visit her mother, but also intended to generate publicity for her husband's invention, which had only been taken on short test drives before. In 1899, F. O. Stanley and his wife Flora drove their Stanley Steamer automobile, sometimes called
1089-417: Was the 16th state admitted in the Union; therefore the shoulder patch has a Roman numeral 16 displayed on it. The uniform of the THP consists of a tan uniform shirt with forest green epaulets and pocket flaps. Long sleeves with a forest green tie is worn during the winter months while short sleeves with an open collar is worn during the summer months. Collar ornaments that have the letters "T.H.P" are worn on
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