Motorcycle Fatalities Up Across Upper Cumberland

Fatalities from motorcycle accidents have increased in 2018 across the Upper Cumberland.

Fred Sherrill is the Cumberland Region Law Enforcement Liaison for the Tennessee Highway Safety Office. He said nine fatalities have occurred from motorcycle accidents this year, up from two at this time in 2017.

“That’s something that is very concerning to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office,” Sherrill said. “We’ve been doing some stuff, trying to get the word out for people to pay attention and watch other drivers. When we were brought up and taught to drive cars, we were always taught to look left, look right, look left. But we were looking for cars. We weren’t looking for motorcycles.”

Sherrill said one of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents he has seen is motorcyclists not being visible to traffic.

“Vehicles are pulling into the path of the motorcycle and with the speed, the momentum, and everything, it’s a lot harder to slow down that motorcycle than it would be to slow down that car,” Sherrill said. “If you’ve got motorcycles in the area, makes sure you leave them plenty of distance and that kind of stuff if you’re driving a vehicle and don’t crowd them.”

Sherrill said in a recent meeting, three accidents were reported by officials within subdivisions caused by grass clippings in the roadways.

“That’s just another factor,” Sherrill said. “And if you’re riding your bike and you [drive on] new yellow lines or white lines and you get on those, your ability to maintain control goes out the window. It’s basically like trying to drive on ice.”

Sherrill advises all drivers and riders to be safe as they prepare to hit the roadway going into Labor Day weekend.

“We just all need to be careful and be safe,” Sherrill said. “Be cognitive of one another. The bikes are out here, and they’re growing. The sales and stuff are up again this year, so we just need to pay more attention.”

This year, motorcycle crashes in general have increased across the Upper Cumberland, with 100 crashes thus far, with 68 resulting in injury. Last year, 94 crashes were reported through August 2017, with 72 resulting in injury.

Motorcycle fatalities are on the rise across Tennessee, with 110 deaths on the year as of Monday.