MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hundreds in Tennessee die every year from vehicle crashes.
“We’re having fatalities any time of the day, any time of the night,” said Col. Marcus Worthy, Memphis Police Department Traffic Division Commander.
Just as recently as Tuesday, Dec. 27, two people died from injuries from a crash and car fire on Airways Boulevard south of I-240.
According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, fatal crashes were on the rise going from 1,206 in 2020 to 1,320 in 2021. This year, that number is down with 1,280 to date.
That decrease also goes for Memphis roadways. We went from 249 last year to 224 as of Wednesday. That is a 10% decrease.
“The biggest challenge we have would be distracted drivers. The second challenge would be the speeders,” said Col. Worthy.
Col. Worthy said distracted driving has led to what they call secondary wrecks. “You may have a wreck, or you may have some construction, or you may have a vehicle being towed off the side of the road and they’re looking at that. They tap their breaks and the car behind them are not paying attention and run into the back of them,” said Col. Worthy. “I, on the average, I may pull over and give a verbal warning to at least four or five people a day.”
MPD said efforts such as Slow Down Memphis and blasting safety concerns on TDOT signs have helped drivers become more aware. “We’re having more enforcement on the interstate. Also, we had the THP actually have troopers inside working the loop.
There’s a police presence, a small but bigger presence on the interstate. That cuts down on a lot of speeding. We’re getting individuals off the roads that shouldn’t be driving as well,” said Col. Worthy. While visibility has helped, law enforcement said there is still more work to do.
During New Years Eve and New Years Day, MPD plans to increase their presence on roadways.