Chattanooga, TN – In a collaborative effort to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities across Hamilton County, the Chattanooga Police Department joined forces with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) and local partners on April 21 to formally announce the formation of the Hamilton County Traffic Task Force.
The initiative was unveiled during a public event where Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy Chambers, Assistant Chief Glen Morrison, and Traffic Sergeant John Seiter stood in support of the new multi-agency approach. The task force brings together various stakeholders with a shared goal: to make Hamilton County’s roadways safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.
The task force will focus on increasing public awareness, enforcing traffic laws, and identifying problem areas where crashes are most likely to occur. With support from state and local agencies, the collaboration aims to take a data-driven approach to tackling roadway hazards.
Following the official announcement, Sergeant Seiter joined THSO officials downtown for a community outreach effort known as “crosswalk talks.” The outreach program involved engaging pedestrians directly at crosswalks to discuss pedestrian safety laws, the importance of driver awareness, and ways both drivers and walkers can help reduce traffic-related incidents.
The Chattanooga Police Department emphasized that education and engagement are critical components of the new task force’s mission. By involving the community in the conversation, officials hope to foster a culture of safety and responsibility on the roads.
The formation of the Hamilton County Traffic Task Force underscores a growing commitment at both the local and state level to address traffic-related risks through collaboration, proactive enforcement, and public education.