Speeding is by far one of the most common causes of fatal crashes. The faster a vehicle is traveling, the harder its impact will be on whatever it hits – including another car. The risk of being hit by a speeding or otherwise dangerous driver increases during the summer when more Tennesseans are on the road – joined by out-of-state drivers here to see the sights or just passing through on their way farther south.
These are among the reasons why the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO), Tennessee Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies throughout the state joined those from Florida, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina in “Operation Southern Slow Down” this month. It’s an annual campaign aimed at encouraging drivers to be safer. It also brought out an increased law enforcement presence on heavily traveled interstates and highways.
This isn’t the first such campaign this year for Tennessee. In April, the THSO sponsored a “Slow Down Tennessee” campaign.
The number of crashes resulting in serious, fatal injuries is up
Despite heightened awareness of the dangers of speeding, distracted driving and other dangerous behaviors, the number of serious crashes has only been increasing in our state. Last year there were over 3,200 crashes involving serious or fatal injuries. As of mid-July of this year, we had already reached close to that number – over 3,000.
When it comes to speeding, racing, reckless and aggressive driving in our state, the numbers are at least headed in the right direction. According to Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN), the number of crashes attributed to these types of driving dropped from over 11,700 in 2021 to just under 10,000 last year.
While these numbers tell us something about the safety of our roads, if you’re involved in a crash caused by another driver, that’s really the only one that matters. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or worse by a reckless or negligent driver, it’s wise to have legal guidance to protect your right to justice and compensation.