New Tennessee Law May Increase the Number of Accidents at Intersections

Data shows that Tennessee has seen an upward trend in the number of serious car accidents in recent years. One of the major causes for these accidents is motorists failing to yield to traffic signals at intersections. In fact, the Tennessee Department of Safety reports there were almost 40,000 Tennessee car accidents recorded at intersections in 2008. Davidson County had the highest number of intersectional crashes with 6,026 accidents at road crossings.

Despite these numbers, Tennessee legislators recently passed a law that could significantly increase the chances of motorists being involved in car accidents. According to an article from The Tennessean, the law—which took effect on July 1—allows motorists to pass through a yellow light at an intersection as long as their front tires cross the stop line before the light turns red.

Many citizens believe the change in the law may encourage drivers to engage in dangerous behavior by attempting to get through traffic signals before lights change to red.

The Nashville personal injury attorneys with Ponce Law remind drivers that although traveling through yellow lights is legal under the law, it may not always be safe to proceed. That’s why we encourage motorists to do their part by stopping at signals when lights turn yellow.

RELATED ARTICLES

Nashville Car Accident Lawyers Talk Traffic Safety For Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day weekend has officially kicked off in Tennessee and officials are expecting it to be an extremely busy weekend for travelers. Estimates show that as many as 755,000 Tennesseans...
Protect Your Kids by Using the Right Safety Seats
Children are among the most vulnerable occupants of any type of vehicles during accidents. To help make children safer during crashes, it’s vital to securely buckle them into car seats....
Smartphone App Aims to Reduce Distracted Driving Among Teens
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of auto accidents in Middle Tennessee—especially amongst teenagers. In fact, 78 percent of young drivers admit to checking texts on a cellphone...
OUR REVIEWS