An Open Letter to the People, Businesses, Governor, Law Enforcement Agencies, Governmental Officials of Tennessee, and All Those Who Come to the Tail of the Dragon:
A lot of attention has been addressed to the Tail of the Dragon recently. This short stretch of US 129 in Tennessee is one of the most thrilling roads in the America if not the entire world. With 318 curves in 11 miles it attracts motorcycle riders, bicyclists and sports car enthusiasts from every corner of the globe.
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen recently allocated funds to increase law enforcement patrolling this highway. The justification is apparently to reduce the serious accidents and deaths in this small section of Federal Highway which spans four states. We don’t know the details of these allocations, but feel that some sense of reasonableness needs to be addressed.
There were no deaths on the 11 miles of the Dragon in the eleven months preceding the Governor’s stepped-up enforcement, from August 2006 to July 1, 2007. Since the increase in state spending which began July 1 there have been three deaths. In this period we have noted at least one Blount County Sheriff Officer on the roadway during weekdays and on the weekends some four Blount County cars, a motorcycle deputy, and one or two Tennessee Highway Patrol vehicles present.
We are not saying that these three deaths are a direct result of the increased patrols, but we do believe that no matter what the State of Tennessee does in the way of enforcement, it will not reduce the number of accidents or deaths on this highway. Dying is a part of living and we all take our chances in everything we do. People are seriously injured and even die at Disney World and Dollywood. There are more motorcycle deaths on other roads of Blount County each year than there are on the Dragon. We are more concerned when we ride our motorcycles along Alcoa Highway, a short stretch of US 129 four-lane south of Knoxville.
Last week there were two Tennessee Highway Patrol Troopers standing next to their well marked patrol cars, arms crossed, glaring at passing motorists, under the Welcome to Tennessee sign. These troopers had an expression of anything but a welcome. Another half mile into the state were three Blount County Sheriff’s Deputies with similar glares and a radar gun pointed at every passing vehicle.
When taking steps to increase enforcement it is important to consider how the general public views these actions. Tail of the Dragon has suggested for years an approach that welcomes the law abiding rider/driver and is harsh with those who violate the law. One or two patrol cars on the move is a great deterrent to speeders. This would also be a much more effective use of state funds and not have a strong-arm appearance.
Be aware that thousands of tourists from all over the country and world travel to the Tail of the Dragon each week. Many of these people spend a lot of money in Tennessee staying in motels, buying fuel and food, and attending other attractions in the state. The tourism dollar is not spent just at the Dragon itself. The entire state benefits. The appearance and actions of the law enforcement agencies at the Dragon have left many tourists wondering if they should return.
If the State of Tennessee would like post a response to the tourists who come to the Dragon just let us know. We will publish any statement by the Governor’s Office on our website. With some 1.5 million unique hits a year we should be able to spread the word that visitors are welcome or not welcome. The State of North Carolina has many great roads with businesses that would just love to have some of these tourism dollars.
Sincerely,
Tail of the Dragon
WE GOT A RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNOR
phil.bredesen@state.tn.us
Dear Friend,
Thank you for writing and sharing your concerns. Your comments and suggestions were greatly appreciated and I will be sure to forward your concerns to the Department of Safety for review and response.
Again, thank you for taking the time to write. I hope to hear from you again on other matters of importance to you.
Warmest regards,
Phil Bredesen
cc: Commissioner David Mitchell, Department of Safety
- RESPONSE FROM TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL
Email.Safety@state.tn.us
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- As you have noticed, the THP has started an enforcement program in the Deals Gaps Area of Hwy. 129. Some people are very upset with this effort and some people applaud it as long overdue. We are receivingemails on both sides of the issue. I can tell you in the past year, we received calls and emails every few days that ask us to do "something"in this area. The overwhelming majority of people describe this area as "total chaos and lawlessness." When you combine these type of descriptions and the statistical information on crashes and fatalities (three fatalities in one weekend two weeks ago), we felt like we had to do something as a public safety organization. You may not agree with our program but it is aimed at protecting the public who frequent that area and ride in a safe manner. It has nothing to do with "quotas" and driving tourism from Tennessee. Anyone who rides in that area and does so safely is always welcome and will not have any problem with the THP. We will continue to conduct our enforcement program for the near future in an effort to make Deals Gap a safe place for recreational motorcycle activity.
Lt. Colonel Tracy G. Trott
Tennessee Highway Patrol
- TAIL OF THE DRAGON ANSWERS:
- Lt. Colonel Trott:
Why can't governmental agencies take intelligent approaches to problems? Your "enforcement program" is actually a shut-down and will be viewed by many law abiding visitors to your state as harassment. In the end it will result in reduced revenue, many complaints from tourists and affected businesses where a more logical approach could have satisfied everyone.
Tail of the Dragon has pleaded with Blount County Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol for years to provide routine enforcement on US129 in order to keep the "chaos and lawlessness" as you describe to a minimum. There had not been a death on the Dragon for eleven months prior to the increase in enforcement which was begun by Blount County Sheriff's Office on July 1. The three deaths you mentioned all occurred after this "safety program" was implemented. Two of the deaths were a couple in their 70s on a trike .... so much for the "total chaos and lawlessness" crowd.
Over this past weekend there were two traffic fatalities within 65 miles of the Dragon. If you had not saturated this 11 miles of US129 with Troopers perhaps these other accidents could have been avoided.
Your program will continue to be presented on our TailoftheDragon.com website for what it is. Perhaps someone in power will see the ridiculous extremes presented by your governmental bureaucracy and take action.
Sincerely,
Ron and Nancy Johnson
- An Open Letter to Governor Bredesen:
- Congratulations. Let Tail of the Dragon be one of the first to congratulate you on the success of your program to reduce accidents and deaths on the 11 mile stretch of US 129 known as the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap. In just one weekend the problem has been eliminated. Of course so have all the tourists who usually come here to enjoy the road. It was a stroke of genius whoever came up with this plan.
- Too bad that your success has also attained the following:
- An incalculable loss to Tennessee in taxes from motorcycle and sports car tourism. And not just the area of Deals Gap, but statewide. We in the motorcycling community are a tight knit group who love the freedom of the road. Take that freedom away and we will ride elsewhere. We also communicate and pass on good and bad reports about where to go and where to avoid. Internet forums across the nation are filled with harassment stories about THP.
- An incalculable loss in revenue for Tennessee businesses. And not just in the Deals Gap area, but statewide. We have received hundreds of email complaints from tourists promising to avoid your state entirely or spend as little as possible if they have to pass through. We’ve had several major businesses promise to cancel all dealings with companies in Tennessee. We’ve had several large groups promise to take their annual meetings elsewhere. We’ve had hundreds of small groups and families promise to take their vacations elsewhere.
- A monumental setback in the attitude toward law enforcement in Tennessee. The actions of your Tennessee Highway Patrol verged on criminal and certainly violated the civil liberties of many of your “guests”. If Commissioner David Mitchell of the Department of Safety was responsible he should be fired. If Colonel Mike Walker of the Tennessee Highway Patrol was responsible he should be fired. We do see on the Tennessee.gov site that “the Tennessee Highway Patrol maintains a riot squad …. that can respond to any emergency that may arise.” Guess we saw them on the Dragon. Perhaps you should review this organization.
- These troopers, sworn to uphold the law and promote safety, made a mockery of their profession by harassing law abiding tourists coming into your state and themselves driving in such a manner as to endanger the public safety. There should be an investigation into the dangerous practices exhibited by your troopers. We have had numerous accounts of THP cars tailgating motorcyclists, making U-turns on the Dragon in violation of 55-8-141, and the crossing of the double yellow as evidenced in several photos and video on our website.
- Please review the photos and video of some of the actions of THP and BCSO officers posted on our website www.TailoftheDragon.com. We will meet with any official of the state at any time to provide the documentation, original sources, and eye witness accounts of these violations by Tennessee law enforcement agencies.
- Actions such as this will leave a lasting impression that will take years to reverse. Graham County, North Carolina, made some similar mistakes in the 1997 BMW Rally and still hears people complain of the treatment they received.
- Put a severe strain on the local court system for minor infractions.
- Expenditures of state monies that could have been better utilized.
- Reassignment of troopers left many areas of the state unprotected during busy week-end traffic and possibly contributed to injuries/deaths elsewhere. Several people reported traveling hundreds of miles on Interstates and not seeing one THP.
- Tail of the Dragon has worked diligently over the past seven years to promote tourism in the area. We have met with many area groups such as the Knoxville Optimist Club, the Maryville Kiwanis Club, and numerous tourism groups in Tennessee to increase local awareness of the special attraction of Deals Gap.
- Tail of the Dragon recently spent time with Tennessee DOT to formulate recommendations for safety improvements to US129. Many of our suggestions appear in the final report. We have begged Blount County and THP for years to have routine patrols on US129 to enforce the laws as they should be. The failure to do so is on Tennessee’s hands.
- Graham County Travel and Tourism in North Carolina has spent tens of thousands of dollars to promote the area to motorcycles and sports car groups. Tennessee has benefited directly from these expenditures.
- Now, in one weekend, someone in your government has negated all this work. US129, normally alive with people from all over the country/world enjoying motorcycling, is today a ghost road. There are literally more law enforcement vehicles on the Dragon than there are motorcycles most of the day. What little traffic there is moves at a 20 mph snails pace meeting radar units every mile or so. And yes, there are people who will say thank you for making the road safe. But our statistics show they are about 2% of those speaking up today.
- Last weekend, while 14 THP vehicles were on the 11 miles of Dragon, two motor vehicle deaths occurred within 65 miles of US129. On this Saturday afternoon, with seven troopers on the Dragon, a rider was killed on nearby US411 in a collision with a pick-up truck. Had these units been in those areas perhaps a life or two could have been saved.
- If Tennessee is so interested in lowering the accidents and deaths on its highways why did it not take part in the 2004 study conducted by Georgia Institute of Technology? Tennessee was the only southeastern state not to contribute a report for study. This study revealed that the best target areas for patrol are rural back roads late at night looking for intoxicated motorists.
- Perhaps Tennessee should listen to the 2003 Surface Transportation Policy Project which states that “the most dangerous roads are those with a posted speed limit of 60 mph or higher.” This study also shows that less than 2 percent of all traffic fatalities occur where the posted speed limit is 30 mph or less as it is on the Dragon.
- There is not much else to say except that we are sorry for the innocent citizens and businesses of Tennessee who will suffer. Perhaps they will take action the next time they vote. Seems none of the local or state officials want to step up to the plate right now.
Tail of the Dragon and thousands of others still cannot believe the disgraceful actions of your state. Someone should answer for it all.