How Likely Are You to Get Into An Accident

Davidson County is one of the most populated areas in Tennessee. With more people per square mile on the roads, it stands to reason that you have a higher chance of being in an accident. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges consumers to stay safe this Halloween. They want to remind parents that sometimes store-bought Halloween costumes can have design or manufacturing flaws that can cause injuries to trick-or-treaters.

Last spring, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security released accident statistics by county from 2013 to 2017. In most categories and in most years, Nashville and Davidson County led the way:

• Between 2013 and 2017, Davidson County had an average of 444,521 licensed drivers. You were more likely to be involved in an accident, or in an accident with injuries, in this county than in any other in Tennessee.
• However, the number of accidents resulting in fatalities was very low. Davidson County ranked 83rd of all 95 Tennessee counties in the rate of fatal crashes.
• The county had an average of 23,735 motorcycle licenses between 2013 and 2017. In that time, there were 331 motorcycle crashes, ranking the county fourth in the state.
• Davidson County saw only 661 alcohol-related crashes between 2013 and 2017 resulting in 19 fatalities, putting the county well below the state average.
• Things aren’t so rosy when it comes to speeding. The county saw 1,366 crashes as the result of speeding for a rate of 3.07 percent, ranked first in the state.

Stats Aren't So Bad

Although the statistics seem grim, Tennessee ranks far below the rest of the states in the rate of binge and excessive drinking, USAToday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 18 percent of adults nationally say they binge drink or drink excessively, with North Dakota leading with way with a whopping 24.7 percent of adults saying they drink excessively. Tennessee’s is the smallest percentage, with only 11.2 percent.

That means that although Nashville and Davidson County top the list for the state at 13.7 percent, residents are still well below the national average.