As summer comes to a close, you may be thinking about hitting the road and soaking in the last of the sun’s warm rays. However, you may want to be wary of the dangerous highway that lies in Tennessee: I-40.
All about I-40
I-40 runs through the entire state of Tennessee, spanning just over 450 miles and connecting Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville, the three biggest cities in the state. Due to the heavy traffic that this road undertakes, it is no surprise that many accidents occur on it. The interstate also connects multiple states, making it an ideal roadway for cross-country travel.
Recent findings, compiling data from the FHSA and NHTSA, show that Tennessee ranks second in overall most crashes per state, totaling a whopping 437 crashes, which claimed 517 fatalities. I-40 claims a large percentage of the blame, as over 43 fatal crashes occur on Tennessee’s stretch of I-40. This does not account for crashes on the interstate out of Tennessee.
Why is it a danger?
Apart from the sheer volume of traffic moving along the interstate daily, news outlets in the area interviewed a local highway patrol to gain understanding of why I-40 is dangerous. The main factor is distracted driving; keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes forward at all times when you are on I-40 may be essential to your safety.
No one wants to be in a car accident, especially not a fatal one. You may want to think twice about answering the messages on your phone when you are driving on I-40.