Tennessee – The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) joined forces with NASCAR driver Ross Chastain on Thursday, May 29, for a traffic safety event aimed at encouraging young drivers to make safe choices behind the wheel. Themed “Use Your Melon,” the event targeted students at Nashville Auto-Diesel College and emphasized the dangers of impaired driving.
The initiative is part of THSO’s broader mission to reduce traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities across the state through education and community engagement. THSO Director Buddy Lewis highlighted the importance of outreach, especially to young drivers.
“Education is vital to improve the safety on our roadways,” Lewis said. “We are grateful to have such strong partnerships to show young drivers that we care about their safety.”
According to data from Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN), the state recorded 6,022 traffic crashes involving a drunk driver in 2024, with nearly 47 percent of those drivers between the ages of 20 and 34. Ross Chastain addressed the students directly, sharing personal insights and encouraging them to avoid drinking and driving.
Adding a refreshing twist to the message, the 2025 Georgia Watermelon Ambassador, Katelyn Lindsay of Locust Grove, Ga., handed out watermelon slices to attendees. Chastain, known for his nickname “The Watermelon Man,” used the lighthearted theme to deliver a serious message about making smart decisions on the road.
The event featured interactive exhibits, vehicle displays, and safety demonstrations provided by a coalition of traffic safety partners. These included the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Nashville Department of Transportation, Metro-Nashville Police Department, Alliance Highway Safety, Reduce TN Crashes, Skyline Medical Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Tennessee Trucking Foundation, and Acceptance Insurance.
Together, these organizations worked to educate and empower young drivers, reinforcing the life-saving importance of staying sober behind the wheel.