TRAFFIC FATALITIES IN TENNESSEE HAVE REACHED A 15-YEAR LOW. HOWEVER, IN 2007, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 11-HUNDRED 69 PEOPLE DIED IN TRAFFIC CRASHES IN THE STATE, A DROP OF 118 DEATHS FROM 2006. STATE OFFICIALS BELIEVE FACTORS AFFECTING THE GOOD NUMBERS INCLUDED EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS. IN 2007, FOR EXAMPLE, SAFETY BELT USAGE NUMBER INCREASED FROM 78 PERCENT TO 80 PERCENT. LAST SUMMER, GOVERNOR PHIL BREDESEN JOINED WITH THE GOVERNOR’S HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY, AND OTHERS IN SIGNING TENNESSEE’S STRATEGIC HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN. THE PLAN FOCUSES ON THE FOUR E’S : EDUCATION, ENFORCEMENT, ENGINEERING, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE. THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED ON ROADWAYS BY AT LEAST 10-PER CENT BY THE END OF 2008.