CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security have rolled out a new feature through online driver services designed to assist citizens in emergency situations.
Driver license and state identification card holders may submit emergency contact information online that will be added to the driver license data base.
Local Clarksville citizen Margaret Davis is the brainchild behind the new feature. After an accident where she and her son with Autism were barely able to convey emergency contact information to first responders, the idea was conceived to develop a system tied into the driver’s license data base.
“When citizens and elected officials work together great things come from it. Residents of Tennessee are safer now,” Davis said.
Representative Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville) requested the capability to add emergency contact information be added to the existing system.
“Margaret expressed a desire to create a way for families of adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities to provide critical information to law enforcement in case of traffic stops or if a family member gets lost,” he said.
Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson helped announce the new data base feature.
“If utilized by the public, this feature would give first responders access to information that could greatly help a victim. I encourage the residents of Montgomery County to utilize this emergency contact feature, it could make a life or death difference,” Fuson said.
License or card holders may submit the name of an emergency contact person, the contact’s phone number, and email address. More than one emergency contact person may be submitted. You can go to https://dl.safety.tn.gov/ to add your emergency contact information.
Photos courtesy of MCSO