The Department of Safety and Homeland Security commissioner talked to troopers in Knoxville Wednesday about ways to be more proactive in reducing traffic deaths.
In more than half of the fatal traffic accidents in Tennessee this year the victims were not wearing a seat belt, and about one-third of the accidents involved drunk drivers.
Commissioner Bill Gibbons says focusing on those issues will help save lives.
"DUI arrests by troopers are 42 percent more than they were this time last year... Seat belt citations are up 52 percent compared to last year, so that's another indication that troopers are really being very proactive on this, and we think that can have a very positive impact on the fatality rate," said Gibbons.
Troopers are also focusing more on drug interdiction on the interstate highways.