Fatal crashes in Tennessee
In 2024, 1,197 people died in 1,093 fatal crashes on Tennessee roads, 9.5% fewer than in 2023. That is about 3 deaths a day, and 3% of all road deaths in the United States.
Tennessee ranks 7th of 51 by road deaths in 2024.
Road deaths in Tennessee since 1975
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads in Tennessee
I-40 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Tennessee from 2015 to 2024: 561, with 642 deaths. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (94 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-40 | 561 | 642 | 173 | Shelby, Knox, Davidson |
| 2 | I-24 | 307 | 350 | 96 | Davidson, Rutherford, Montgomery |
| 3 | US 70 | 212 | 224 | 77 | Davidson, Wilson, Cumberland |
| 4 | US 64 | 174 | 199 | 63 | Shelby, Polk, Hardin |
| 5 | I-75 | 158 | 174 | 58 | Mcminn, Hamilton, Bradley |
| 6 | US 41 | 158 | 168 | 67 | Davidson, Rutherford, Robertson |
| 7 | I-65 | 140 | 157 | 42 | Davidson, Williamson, Robertson |
| 8 | US 51 | 137 | 142 | 47 | Shelby, Tipton, Lauderdale |
| 9 | US 11 | 115 | 122 | 38 | Hamilton, Knox, Mcminn |
| 10 | US 41A | 97 | 100 | 40 | Montgomery, Davidson, Bedford |
| 11 | US 11E | 96 | 103 | 33 | Greene, Washington, Knox |
| 12 | I-240 | 91 | 101 | 33 | Shelby |
| 13 | State Highway 175 | 90 | 102 | 33 | Shelby |
| 14 | US 231 | 90 | 96 | 24 | Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford |
| 15 | US 11W | 84 | 92 | 18 | Hawkins, Sullivan, Grainger |
| 16 | State Highway 14 | 82 | 87 | 29 | Shelby, Tipton |
| 17 | US 27 | 82 | 86 | 28 | Hamilton, Scott, Morgan |
| 18 | US 321 | 81 | 94 | 32 | Blount, Sevier, Cocke |
| 19 | US 411 | 77 | 92 | 20 | Sevier, Blount, Polk |
| 20 | US 412 | 76 | 83 | 24 | Madison, Henderson, Crockett |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest counties in Tennessee
Shelby County had the most fatal crashes in Tennessee from 2015 to 2024: 1,755, with 1,909 deaths. 95 counties in Tennessee recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shelby | 195 | 1,755 | 1,909 |
| 2 | Davidson | 106 | 981 | 1,039 |
| 3 | Knox | 73 | 611 | 659 |
| 4 | Hamilton | 35 | 406 | 440 |
| 5 | Rutherford | 38 | 340 | 366 |
| 6 | Montgomery | 24 | 268 | 289 |
| 7 | Wilson | 22 | 196 | 210 |
| 8 | Sullivan | 16 | 189 | 202 |
| 9 | Blount | 24 | 183 | 203 |
| 10 | Greene | 21 | 167 | 177 |
| 11 | Madison | 23 | 164 | 190 |
| 12 | Sevier | 14 | 159 | 170 |
| 13 | Williamson | 12 | 151 | 162 |
| 14 | Sumner | 11 | 148 | 160 |
| 15 | Maury | 13 | 144 | 156 |
| 16 | Robertson | 11 | 136 | 154 |
| 17 | Mcminn | 14 | 135 | 145 |
| 18 | Cumberland | 12 | 133 | 143 |
| 19 | Bradley | 13 | 129 | 136 |
| 20 | Coffee | 14 | 124 | 134 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Tennessee
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 400 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.5 percent, 359 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 153 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 129 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 270 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 326 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 304 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.3 percent, 133 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 175 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 200 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 307 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 298 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 236 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.8 percent, 82 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 161 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 166 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 269 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 287 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 259 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.0 percent, 107 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 149 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 179 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 282 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 341 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 282 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.3 percent, 129 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 159 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 222 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 301 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 383 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 290 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.4 percent, 138 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 158 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 202 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 306 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 335 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 371 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.1 percent, 313 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 154 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 190 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 318 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 398 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 400 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.6%
- Feb6.5%
- Mar7.3%
- Apr8.0%
- May8.9%
- Jun9.0%
- Jul9.2%
- Aug9.4%
- Sep9.4%
- Oct9.3%
- Nov8.1%
- Dec8.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Tennessee: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Tennessee | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 43% | 43% | about the same as the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 19% | 25% | below the US share |
| In daylight | 50% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 20% | 21% | below the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 26% | 28% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Tennessee roads in 2024
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 833 | 70% |
| Motorcyclists | 188 | 16% |
| Pedestrians | 158 | 13% |
| Cyclists | 9 | 0.8% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 9 | 0.8% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Tennessee: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (7,133 in Tennessee).
| Tennessee | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 25% | 26% | below the US share |
| Speeding | 17% | 27% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 49% | 49% | about the same as the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.6% | 6.5% | about the same as the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 16% | about the same as the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 4,450 | 42% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 3,616 | 34% |
| Pedestrian | 1,373 | 13% |
| Rollover | 624 | 5.8% |
| Other | 409 | 3.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 110 | 1.0% |
| Cyclist | 96 | 0.9% |
| Not reported | 2 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Tennessee
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (16,052 vehicles).
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 6,517 | 41% |
| SUVs | 2,961 | 18% |
| Pickups | 2,883 | 18% |
| Motorcycles | 1,616 | 10% |
| Truck-tractors | 913 | 5.7% |
| Other trucks | 567 | 3.5% |
| Vans | 555 | 3.5% |
| Buses | 40 | 0.2% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road pages for Tennessee
Every numbered road in Tennessee with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
Where the Tennessee numbers come from
Every figure on this page is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I35 FRONTAGE" and "I-35" are the same road; frontage roads and ramps are left out of road counts). Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". The full method.