Is Nashville safe? Tourists and residents know there are dangerous parts of Nashville – every city has them – but they often follow their GPS onto some of the city’s most dangerous roads. Interchanges where congestion is high often lead to greater accident risks.
If you’re driving through the Nashville area and want to avoid being one of the 8,400+ people involved in car accidents in the first four months of the year, avoid the roads below.
The Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Nashville, TN
Drive safely on Tennessee roads to avoid having to call a personal injury lawyer. Slow down around sharp turns, avoid speeding and pay special attention when merging onto busy intersections.
Defensive driving saves lives, especially on the following roadways:
Interstate 40 (I-40)
I-40 is an interstate that never seems to end. You can go from North Carolina to Nashville using I-40, and it stretches all the way to California. Truckers and pedestrians take the 445 miles of this single interstate through the state every day.
When you near I-24 in Nashville, this is where accidents are most likely to take place.
Creating the perfect “storm,” the following factors contribute to the high accident rate:
- Congestion in the area is high.
- Merging is erratic.
- Traffic from Nashville International Airport
Entering an area like the Nashville Metro Area with a population of 2.1 million people always poses a risk of accidents. Remain patient and calm while driving and keep your head on a swivel.
Interstate 24 (I-24)
We have to mention I-24 because it’s an interstate with a higher rate of accidents due to steep descents and congestion. Traffic converging together is one problem, but it’s not the only one. I-24 has multiple segments that connect together.
You’re at a greater risk at I-40, but there’s also I-65, which has a high risk of accidents, too.
Drivers can avoid I-24 to drive into Nashville, but the alternative route is often I-40 and I-65. Remain diligent when driving and be on the lookout for steep descents that quickly cause you to accelerate.
Interstate 65 (I-65)
I-65 is the next on the list and is always a dangerous interstate due to the same issues that cause I-40 and I-24 to be hazardous. Drivers have to deal with:
- Commercial traffic
- Commuter traffic
Congestion is common and one of the reasons that 25.8 miles of the interstate is being widened. Widening will occur over a three-phase project that will bring the interstate from its current four-lane setup to one with six lanes.
Work on the interstate is meant to help improve safety in the area.
Lafayette Street & Charles E. Davis Boulevard
Lafayette Street may seem safe at first, but when you reach Charles E. Davis Boulevard, it becomes the most dangerous intersection in the state. Foot and bicycle traffic make matters worse.
While unsuspecting, the intersection is in an area with higher crime and congestion during rush hour.
Murfreesboro Pike & Hamilton Church Road
Speed is a major contributing factor to the higher accident rate at this intersection. Known for its commuter-heavy traffic, drivers are often speeding to work or going home, causing it to be a hotspot for accidents.
Nolensville Pike & Harding Place
Nolensville Pike is one of the busiest arterial roads in the city, receiving an average of 26,000 vehicles every day. But the roadway’s narrow design makes it a poor fit for such a high volume of traffic. Sideswipes and rear-end collisions are especially common here.
This area is also a hub for public transit and is not designed to protect pedestrians, which increases the risk of pedestrian-related crashes.
Old Hickory Boulevard & Gallatin Pike/Lebanon Pike
Old Hickory Boulevard is notorious for accidents, with ten of the city’s high-risk intersections sitting along this stretch of roadway.
This particular intersection ranks among the most dangerous in the city, particularly for pedestrian accidents.
High traffic volume and drivers traveling at high speeds increase the risk of serious and fatal accidents.
Charlotte Pike & Old Charlotte Pike
The intersection of Charlotte Pike and Old Charlotte Pike is a hotspot for accidents. Multiple roads converge in this area, creating complex traffic patterns and confusion that can increase the risk of a crash.
Unclear signs and a lack of physical dividers add to the problem.
Charlotte Pike is part of Nashville’s “High Injury Network,” a small group of streets that are responsible for the majority of the city’s serious and fatal crashes.
Why are These Roads in Nashville So Dangerous?
Every major city has its fair share of dangerous roads, and Nashville is no exception. A combination of factors makes these particular roads and intersections some of the most dangerous parts of Nashville, including:
Excessive Traffic
According to INRIX’s 2024 Traffic Scorecard Report, Nashville’s traffic congestion is the 27th-worst worldwide and 11th-worst in the U.S. That same report found that drivers spend about 63 hours stuck in traffic.
Excessive traffic and long commute times (45+ minutes on average) increase the risk of accidents on the city’s roadways. The roads and intersections above are located in some of the most highly trafficked areas of Nashville.
Speeding and Distracted Driving
Combine excessive traffic with distracted driving and speeding and you have a recipe for serious or fatal accidents.
In 2024, a total of 1,557 accidents involved distracted driving (about 6% of total crashes) and 1,068 (about 4.2% of all crashes) involved speeding in Davidson County.
Many of the dangerous roads and intersections on this list are highways or major roadways with speed limits of 65-70 MPH. Drivers who exceed these limits are traveling at dangerously high speeds, increasing the risk of an accident substantially.
Aging Infrastructure
Although Tennessee has taken steps to improve its roadways and infrastructure, it still ranks as “mediocre.”
Aging or inadequate infrastructure can lead to higher accidents, including:
- Poor lighting at crossings
- Missing sidewalks in areas with high pedestrian activity
- Poor access to public transit stops
- Insufficient bike lane protection
Many of these areas with aging infrastructure are also home to high pedestrian activity, which further increases the risk of accidents.
Were You Hurt in an Accident in Nashville?
Car accidents can happen anywhere in Nashville, but the risk is higher when traveling on the most dangerous roads and intersections on this list.
Even if you’re a defensive, safe driver, you may still find yourself in an accident with other drivers on these busy roadways.
If you were injured in an accident in Nashville that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and other damages.
Contact our Nashville office today at (615) 208-3860 or online to schedule a free case evaluation and learn more about your options.