Upper Cumberland Seeing Decrease in Traffic Deaths This Year

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security reports traffic deaths in the Upper Cumberland have decreased this year compared to 2017.

Fred Sherrill of the Tennessee Highway Safety Office says state campaigns have helped several jurisdictions reduce deadly crashes in their areas.

“One of the things that we’re actually concentrating especially on is getting out and making people aware of some changes and stuff they can do, or some new things they can do to keep themselves safe,” Sherrill says. “We’ve had several banners and stuff out for (high crash areas) and we’ve done ‘Safe on 70’ which is a new campaign we’ve came up with.”

Approximately 19 fewer deaths have occurred in the region compared to 2017. The drop is the largest across the state bringing the region to 62 deaths on the year. Only the state’s Lawrenceburg district has experienced fewer deaths at 56.

Sherrill says despite decreases in most districts, several areas can still be improved as the state total for 2018 traffic deaths nears 1,000, slightly higher than last year.

“A little more visibility, and a lot more saturation… if we can get some officers in areas where we’ve been having crashes,” Sherrill says, “that visibility is always a deterrent to slow down, make sure you’re wearing your seat belts, and save lives.”

Sherrill says decreasing traffic accidents and deaths are always the Safety Office’s top priorities no matter the jurisdiction.

“It’s just something we all try to work on throughout the state to try and save some lives,” Sherrill says. “Just like I was saying, we can get the visibility up out there with the banners and the message boards… those have been a great asset for us.”

Four counties in the Cookeville district have witnessed an increase in traffic deaths this year, including Cannon, Cumberland, DeKalb, and Putnam Counties.

At least three people have died in traffic-related incidents since Dec. 6 in the Upper Cumberland, including a hit-and-run incident in DeKalb County.