NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Since 2010, more than 1,700 pedestrians have been killed on Tennessee roads. After analyzing the numbers, News 2 found around 127 pedestrians die each year in the Volunteer State.
Crashes involving pedestrians have become such a problem that Vision Zero has put together documentaries, which highlight the heartbreaking stories of death and recovery.
As the name implies, Nashville’s Vision Zero initiative looks to cut pedestrian deaths in the city to zero.
“Back in 2016, I was cycling in Green Hills, going down Hillsboro Road. A young lady was in the turn lane, I was in the bike lane, she turned from the turn lane and turned directly into me and T-boned me,” described Darold Bradley, in a documentary put together by the city.
Stories like Bradley’s, put together by Metro Nashville’s Vision Zero Department, highlight what everyday pedestrians and bicyclists go through.
“Probably put me out of cycling for about a year, two years, max. It was just lack of awareness,” Bradley said.
It’s the same story on different stretches of road.
“A lot of people just don’t look when they’re driving; they don’t look while they’re walking, too, so it gets a little dangerous when they’re not paying attention and so hearing that it passed is really good,” described Andrew Walker, who often walks along Murfreesboro Pike.
According to the latest data by the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), there have been more than 140 pedestrians who have been killed on Tennessee roads, along with nine cyclists.
“Watch out for pedestrians. They are vulnerable roadway users as well. If you see someone on the roadside, remember to slow down and move over,” said Buddy Lewis, THP Director.
The holiday season can be especially dangerous, with millions set to be on the road.
Smart Growth America ranked Tennessee as the 11th deadliest state for pedestrian deaths.
“Everybody wants to see their loved ones, their friends and family, and we want you to get there safely and then get back home when the holiday season is over. So we’re going to ask you to slow down,” said Col. Matt Perry with THP.
In Nolensville, it has become such a problem, officers there have started doing frequent patrols after six pedestrians were been hit by vehicles just this year.
At crosswalks, there have been one close call and two people actually hit. Police told News 2 part of the problem is speeding and distracted driving.
“She wasn’t paying attention, she just ran him over,” remembered Chuck Isbell, who lost his son in a car accident.
Isbell knows the reality all too well, as he is often brought back to the moment when his 13-year-old son, Nate, went out with friends on a Halloween night. That night, he was hit along Powell’s Chapel Road. Isbell said the impact was strong and threw Nate into a neighboring yard.
“Like last night I saw something and I was like, ‘Oh, I need to tell him about that,’ you know? And I wanted to send him a text and I got my phone and I realized, you know, I still have that problem. I can’t contact him like I would want to,” Isbell said.
According to Chuck, his son’s death was preventable, and drivers should pay attention behind the wheel, not just in his son’s case, but as a reminder of just how a moment can change someone’s life.
Walk Bike Nashville is now demanding action from state leaders, through a petition specifically focused on the state’s strategic highway safety plan, which shows crashes steadily increasing through 2027.
