How Many Car Accident Deaths in Tennessee Each Year?

Image by Marcel Langthim from Pixabay

The answer to this question is far too many. In 2018, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security released statistics stating that 1,047 people died in traffic accidents. This represents a 2.2 percent increase in deaths compared to 2017. If the state’s legislators don’t do something to improve driver safety, this is a tragic trend that may continue into the future.

Tennessee can be a dangerous state for drivers, and Nashville in particular is experiencing a spike in vehicle accidents with 36,537 in 201 alone, which was a drastic rise from 2017 (Source: The Cochran Firm). Let’s take a look at the main reasons there are so many accidents in the state.

Leading Cause of Death

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for those between 15 and 29, with 13 million people dying each year around the world. With the increase in fatal accidents in Tennessee, it is clear that residents are vulnerable to dying on Tennessee’s roads.

Drinking and Driving

In 2018, there were 2018 arrests for drivers who were under the influence. Although this is a 6.9 percent decrease from 2017, driving under the influence is one of the leading causes of automobile accidents in the country. In addition, there were 109,055 citations for lack of seatbelt use or child restraints, a 5.6 percent decrease from the year before. However, unrestrained motorists accounted for 42 percent of the deaths on Tennessee roadways that year.

Speed and Distracted Driving

Speed and distracted driving were also contributing factors in many traffic deaths in Tennessee. There were 147 people who died due to speeding, while 60 died due to distracted driving. In addition, pedestrian fatalities increased by 11 percent in Tennessee between 2017 and 2018.

Other Factors

There are other factors that have an impact on traffic fatalities in Tennessee. They include:

• Driver age
• Geography
• Road conditions
• Time of Day
• Weather conditions

Another factor is the type of vehicle involved in accidents. Large trucks are responsible for many deaths in Tennessee. When a large truck is involved in an accident with a passenger vehicle, the occupants of the passenger vehicle often suffer catastrophic injuries and death.

Motorcycle accidents are also common, especially on the Tail of the Dragon, one of the most dangerous roads in the country. Motorcycle riders have little protection other than helmets, and when they are involved in a crash, they are normally seriously injured.

Dangerous Roads

Tennessee has some of the most dangerous roads in the country. In addition to Tail of the Dragon, Interstate 40 is the location of more than 140 traffic fatalities each year. Interstate 24, located in the center of the state is especially dangerous for large trucks as they must make a steep climb up a mountain face and then descend at a dangerous angle on a road that twists and blind spots.

Interstate 65, another dangerous highway in Tennessee accounts for more than 36 deaths each year. The most dangerous intersection in Tennessee is located in Nashville, the corner of Hickory Hollow Parkway and Mt. View Road. More than half the accidents that occur at this intersection result in serious injury. These roads are dangerous due to the poor road or intersection design as well as lack of maintenance and repair.

Let’s take a look at some of the more recent vehicle crashes that have taken place in Tennessee in the last three weeks alone.

• Two people were killed in a fiery crash in Nashville.
• A mother died in a wreck after her son’s funeral.
• A cheerleader from Murfreesboro was killed in a crash.
• A musician was killed in a wreck on I-65.
• A Nashville man died in an accident that was caused by rain.

So many lives lost, and often through no fault of their own. Be careful when you’re on the roads, whether they are thought to be dangerous or not. These accidents can be devastating and crashes like this happen to people every day here in the Volunteer State.