High school and college students are back in school, it means more teens and those just above their teen years are on the roads. New studies show how dangerous that can be. Wrecks are the leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds in the U.S.
The latest study from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association attributes distracted driving of all kinds — not just texting — to those statistics.
And with the Labor Day Weekend here, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is stepping up enforcement in a high-visibility campaign to help, among other things, combat distracted driving.
There’s a statewide texting ban in effect in Tennessee. But the THP is looking not just for those typing away on their devices, but for all kinds of distracted driving.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol knows the visual cues of distracted driving: frequent head nods, staring or gazing downwards, and swerving in and out of lanes. But it’s not just smartphones that are the problem and it doesn’t only involve teens. One state patrolman said he stopped a driving that was reading a book.
This Labor Day Weekend, the THP will have a trooper driving a semi-truck around a certain part of the state to get a good visual on distracted drivers. Another trooper in the passenger seat will radio a distracted driver’s license plate number and vehicle make/model to a nearby patrol car.
Some schools in Tennessee are also welcoming a Jeopardy-like game show into their schools called “ThinkFast Interactive.” The game combines the state’s teen driving safety rules with pop-culture and trivia to educate teens about safe driving.
We also remind you to buckle up as you travel.

Motlow College invites its student body, students from area high schools and those who are home-schooled, and the general public to the annual College Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the Moore County campus.
The event is set for 9 – 11:30 a.m. inside Nisbett Center and will include representatives from more than 30 colleges and universities, technology centers, specialty schools and the Armed Forces; according to Brenda Cannon, director of student and campus relations at Motlow.
“The College Fair is an excellent service provided to area residents, high schools and Motlow students” Cannon said. “It reinforces Motlow’s commitment to serve and empower residents as well as strengthen the K-12 partnerships.”
Eric Fowler of the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation will make presentations emphasizing the Hope Scholarship and the new Tennessee Promise opportunity. Reservations are required for these presentations and can be made by calling Cannon at 931-393-1548 or emailing bcannon@mscc.edu.
Those attending the fair will be able to gather information from representatives of Aquinas College, Art Institute of Tennessee, Austin Peay State University, Berry College, Bethel University, Carson-Newman University, Cumberland University, East Tennessee State University, Fayetteville College of Cosmetology, Hiwassee College, King University, Lee University, Lincoln Memorial University, Lipscomb University, Love Beauty School, Maryville College, Middle Tennessee State University, Nossi College of Art, O’More College of Design, Inc., Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Shelbyville, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University, Tennessee Wesleyan College, Trevecca Nazarene University, Tusculum College, Union University, University of Alabama at Huntsville, University of Memphis, University of North Alabama, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Sewanee: the University of the South, the United States Army, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, Western Governors University and West Virginia University Institute of Technology.
The College Fair is sponsored by Motlow and the Tennessee Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. It is free and open to the public.

A resident of North Polk Street in Tullahoma was arrested on sex charges involving a 15-year-old girl.
Felix Diaz-Castrejon, 32, was charged with statutory rape by an authority figure, incest and identity theft.
According to warrants obtained by Tullahoma Investigator Rana Pawlowski, on Oct. 8, 2013 the man is accused of chasing the 15-year-old through the house and then catching her and forcing her to have sex with him.
The investigator started an investigation into the allegations and obtained warrants.
Diaz-Castrejon used a Social Security number to gain employment illegally here and the number belonged to an individual who is deceased. He also used the name Felix Diaz. So he was charged with the identity theft.