Some of Nashville’s main thoroughfares were among the 10 most dangerous stretches of roads in Tennessee, a study of traffic safety data shows.
The Knoxville-based law firm of Brown & Roberto compiled the report of Tennessee’s most dangerous roads from a five-year study completed by the U.S. Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The data is from 2019 to 2023.
The firm looked at fatal crashes reported during that five-year stretch. Its list includes the state’s most dangerous 10-mile stretches of road, based on that data, the report notes.
“The Lawyers of Brown & Roberto conducted this study to bring awareness to roadway safety issues that directly impact communities in Tennessee. As a personal injury firm, they see firsthand the consequences of serious accidents,” attorney Tim Roberto said in a statement sent by email. “The firm wanted to use its resources to shed light on areas of potential danger so that drivers can be aware of the risk around them.”
Tennessee’s four largest cities, Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga, occupied all 10 spots.
The law firm ranked the 10 most deadliest stretches in its study.
Nashville takes top two deadliest spots, five overall
Nashville’s Interstate 24 at the Interstate 40 split in South Nashville recorded the most fatalities during the five year stretch with 35, four more than the second most dangerous stretch, a pocket of Interstate 65 that runs from TriStar Skyline Medical Center to Vanderbilt University.
In fifth place on the list is a 10-mile segment of Interstate 40 that runs west to east across the city from Tennessee State University to Nashville International Airport.
The law firm said this stretch of Interstate 40 is among the busiest in the region, connecting the airport, business districts and TSU.
Two sections of Interstate 24, one that runs through Robertson County and a second that runs through Rutherford County made the list. Both tied for eighth place with 16 fatal crashes each.
Memphis has three in the top 10
A 10-mile stretch along Interstate 240 that runs beside Memphis International Airport was third on the list with 29 fatal crashes.
The city also recorded a tie for fifth place with 22 fatal crashes reported along Interstate 40 running through Central Memphis toward Jackson Avenue and 17 on another stretch of Interstate 40 in East Memphis near Stonebridge Golf Course.
Knoxville with one in top 10
Knoxville’s only appearance on the list is fourth, with 23 fatal crashes on Interstate 40 from Sherill Boulevard to Liberty Street on the city’s west side.
Chattanooga ties for last
Chattanooga’s lone appearance on the top 10 sees the city in a three-way tie with Nashville in eighth place.
The deadly stretch on Interstate 24 runs from the Browns Ferry Road interchange to Parkridge East Hospital and saw 16 fatal crashes occur during the five-year study.
A rising trend?
The safety administration’s database showed a rising trend in the number of fatal crashes in Tennessee.
In 2019, the state saw 1,041 fatal crashes, the database said. The number increased to 1,219 in 2023.
Between 2019-2023, the state reported a total of 5,822 fatal crashes, the database shows.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: New study names 10 deadliest roads in Tennessee: Where are they