U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000

Skip to content
Facebook iconYouTube iconTwitter iconFlickr iconLinkedInInstagram

Safety

FHWA Home / Safety / Transportation Safety Planning (TSP) / State Safety Fact Sheets

Program Contact

Jennifer Warren
jennifer.warren@dot.gov
(202) 366-2157
 

State Safety Fact Sheets

PDF Version

Tennessee

FHWA-SA-11-38

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of people who died in crashes across the country decreased from 37,423 in 2008 to 33,808 in 2009. In addition, the number of people injured declined for the ninth year in a row to just over 2.2 million. Even in light of these reductions, motor vehicle crashes remain a significant problem. To improve safety, a coordinated response is needed from all levels and branches of government – Federal agencies, state legislatures, city and county councils, and local agencies. A coordinated response should result in increased safety funding, more effective safety laws, and enhanced education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency response efforts targeting critical safety issues. As part of the overall strategy to reduce fatalities and serious injuries, Tennessee has an approved Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), which identifies the following emphasis areas: improve crash data, reduce lane departures, improve intersection safety, improve work zone safety, improve motor carrier safety, improve driver behavior, strengthen legislation, and enhance education and awareness programs. To obtain a copy of the SHSP, contact the State DOT or FHWA Division Office Safety Specialist.

Fatality Trends

Indicators TN U.S.
Total Fatalities
2009 989 33,808
Average: 2000-2009 1,206 41,157
Fatality Rate (per 100M VMT)
2009 1.41 1.14
Average: 2000-2009 1.74 1.41

Graph- Roadway fatalities in Tennessee increased from 1,307 in 2000 to 1,339 in 2004 before decreasing to 989 in 2009. Fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled decreased from 1.99 in 2000 to 1.41 in 2009. Fatality rate in the country continuously decreased from 1.53 in 2000 to 1.14 in 2009.

Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2000-2008 Final & 2009 Annual Report File (ARF).

Fatality rate is calculated based on State fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Total fatalities are taken from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Safety Focus Areas

This chart represents national safety focus areas and their corresponding percentages of total crash fatalities in the State and in the Nation. More than one of these focus areas may be involved as contributing factors in a single crash.

Graph - Shows average fatalities between 2005 and 2009 as a percentage of total crash fatalities for various safety focus areas. Intersections 17 percent in Tennessee, 21 percent nationwide; Roadway departure crashes 65 percent in Tennessee, 53 percent nationwide; Pedestrian 6 percent in Tennessee, 12 percent nationwide; Speeding 22 percent in Tennessee, 32 percent nationwide; Alcohol-related crashes 36 percent Tennessee, 37 percent nationwide; Unrestrained fatalities 44 percent Tennessee, 36 percent nationwide; Fatalities involving large trucks 11 percent in Tennessee, 11 percent nationwide.

In the graphic, "Intersections" refers to non-interchange intersection/intersection-related crashes; "Roadway Departures" refers to non-intersection crashes in which a vehicle crosses an edge line, a centerline, or leaves the traveled way (includes intersections at interchange areas); "Alcohol" refers to crashes involving a driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) =.01+; "Unrestrained" refers to unrestrained passenger vehicles occupant fatalities (does not include unknown restraint use).

Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2000-2008 Final & 2009 Annual Report File (ARF).

Rural and Urban Roadway Fatalities

Pie chart - 43 percent of traffic-related fatalities occur on Tennessee's urban roadways, 57 percent occur on the rural roads. Graph - Shows fatalities by rural roadway facility type from 2005 to 2009. Rural Interstate fatalities: 83 in 2005, 75 in 2006, 96 in 2007, 60 in 2008, 58 in 2009. Rural principal arterial fatalities: 96 in 2005, 126 in 2006, 100 in 2007, 90 in 2008, 83 in 2009. Rural minor arterial fatalities: 187 in 2005, 162 in 2006, 163 in 2007, 130 in 2008, 125 in 2009. Rural collector and local fatalities: 362 in 2005, 359 in 2006, 340 in 2007, 323 in 2008, 311 in 2009.

Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2000-2008 Final & 2009 Annual Report File (ARF).

Pie chart - 35 percent of traffic-related fatalities occur on the nation's urban roadways, 65 percent occur on the nation's rural roads. Graph - Shows fatalities by urban roadway facility type from 2005 to 2009. Urban Interstate fatalities: 106 in 2005, 110 in 2006, 95 in 2007, 87 in 2008, 76 in 2009. Urban principal arterial fatalities: 162 in 2005, 192 in 2006, 166 in 2007, 145 in 2008, 140 in 2009. Urban minor arterial fatalities: 165 in 2005, 143 in 2006, 132 in 2007, 100 in 2008, 109 in 2009. Urban collector and local fatalities: 109 in 2005, 117 in 2006, 119 in 2007, 108 in 2008, 87 in 2009.

Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2000-2008 Final & 2009 Annual Report File (ARF).

For the purposes of this document, the terms urban and rural are based on the definition published in the American National Standard (ANSI D16.1-1996).

For More Information

The Transportation Safety Planning Working Group

Fatality Analysis Reporting System

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Federal Highway Administration Division Office Contacts

Federal Highway Administration, Office of Planning

Federal Highway Administration, Office of Safety

Federal Highway Administration Resource Center

Contacts

Safety Specialist or Planning Team Leader
FHWA, Tennessee Division
404 BNA Drive, Suite 508
Nashville, TN 37217
(615) 781-5788

Jennifer Warren
Transportation Specialist
FHWA, Office of Safety, E71-113
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
(202) 366-2157
Fax (202) 366-3222
Jennifer.Warren@dot.gov

Rae Keasler
Transportation Planner
FHWA, Office of Planning, E72-109
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
(202) 366-0329
Fax (202) 493-2198
Rae.Keasler@dot.gov

Safety and Design or Planning Team
FHWA Resource Center
One Prairie Office Center
4749 Lincoln Mall Drive, Suite 600
Matteson, IL 60443
Phone: (708) 283-3500
Fax: (708) 283-3501

Return to top

Page last modified on December 13, 2011
Safe Roads for a Safer Future - Investment in roadway safety saves lives
Privacy Policy | Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) | Accessibility | Web Policies & Notices | No Fear Act | Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse
U.S. DOT Home | USA.gov | WhiteHouse.gov

Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000