Tennessee is on track to have the lowest number of traffic fatalities since May following a spike in deaths over the summer months.
Highway Safety Liaison Fred Sherrill said recent campaigns conducted by the Highway Safety Office likely helped with the decrease in traffic deaths.
“Our new events – the Safe on 70, High Crash Zone signs we put out, and our bus tour reminding people not to text and drive – has made a difference,” Sherrill said. “It makes [drivers] more aware of what’s going on and more aware of their surroundings and their driver abilities… Everything in general the whole way across has made a big difference.”
With two days remaining in September, 79 fatal accidents have occurred this month, while June, July, and August had over 100 fatalities each month.
Sherrill said vacation travel, warmer weather, and lower gas prices may have encouraged more motorists to hit the road this summer, leading to a higher rate in fatal accidents.
“We’ve had so many days of 90 degrees, we’ve had a lot of people heading out and people on the road,” Sherrill said. “Fuel prices have been lower. We haven’t seen that high spike in fuel prices, and I think more people have been on the road.”
Sherrill said changing temperatures and wet weather may keep motorists off the roadway and ultimately lower the risk of additional fatalities.
The Upper Cumberland has seen a decrease in traffic fatalities in through the first nine months of 2018 compared to this time in 2017. This year, 44 people have died in traffic accidents, compared to 57 this time last year.
Cumberland, DeKalb, and Putnam Counties have seen a higher number of fatalities in 2018, with Putnam having the most at 12 deaths.
