Bradley County's Campaign Lifesaver paying off

photo Jim Ruth, Bradley County Sheriff
Arkansas-Ole Miss Live Blog

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The Lifesaver message is getting public attention, according to the Bradley County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Jim Ruth launched Campaign Lifesaver nearly a month ago. It includes an ongoing, high-visibility traffic patrol component and, for a while, also used warning citations that came with a piece of Life Savers candy.

"Ninety-five percent of the people we stop are good, law-abiding citizens," Capt. William G. Campbell said Friday, summing up the campaign so far. "Sadly though, good people can kill good people in a traffic accident."

There were no fatal traffic accidents in Bradley County in November, the sheriff noted.

"I have mentioned before that working traffic aggressively not only saves lives but brings benefits in solving crimes as well," Ruth wrote in a recent online column.

So far this year, Bradley County has had 11 traffic deaths. Officially, it had 15 in 2010, although two others may have been traffic-related, according to authorities.

The department's primary complaints are speeding and reckless driving, Campbell said.

After handing out more than 1,000 pieces of Life Savers candy and warnings, public attention has been focused on safety as the holiday season goes on, officials said. From now into the new year, strong traffic patrolling will continue, but without the candy and fewer warnings.

Officers and motorists always should remember to remain courteous, Campbell said.

"It's not about money. It's not about writing tickets," he said.

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