The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), along with its safety partners, has signed a new Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) aimed at reducing serious injuries and deaths on Tennessee roadways. The SHSP, which is updated every four years, adopts a proactive goal toward achieving zero fatalities. The 2025-2029 plan notably includes the first Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Safety Assessment, focusing on pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-motorized transportation users who are more vulnerable on the roads.
The latest figures show a decrease in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities, with 37 fewer deaths reported in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Year-to-date, the numbers stand at 150 in 2024, down from 187 in 2023. For more detailed crash data, visit the DOS&HS Crash Data page.
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To improve road safety, TDOT is investing in infrastructure enhancements such as sidewalks, crosswalk visibility upgrades, and bikeways. These measures are part of TDOT’s broader commitment to creating a safer transportation network for all users in the state. Over the past five years, TDOT has implemented more than 300 safety projects totaling $239 million, with approximately 15% of these improvements focused on strategies for vulnerable road users.
The SHSP aligns multiple agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DOS&HS) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), to work collaboratively toward reducing crash-related fatalities and injuries in Tennessee. Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “By signing this plan, we recognize that effective transportation safety relies on a vast network of partners, each playing a critical role. Every component of our transportation system interacts, and we must work together, coordinate our efforts, and commit to a unified vision for safer travels for everyone.
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New Traffic Signal on Veterans Parkway
A new traffic signal at the intersection of Veterans Parkway and Shores Road/Blackman Road in Murfreesboro is now operational, having followed the guidelines of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, with contact information available for the city traffic engineer for further inquiries.