The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has set a new benchmark in roadway safety with the update of its Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), aiming to proactively reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the state’s roads. The 2025-2029 plan places particular emphasis on Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Safety Assessment, a first for Tennessee, reflecting a focus on protecting pedestrians, cyclists, and users of non-motorized transportation.
Comparative data shows a promising trend in the safety of these VRUs, with fatalities for pedestrians and cyclists down by 37 from the same period last year. According to stats listed on TDOT's website, the number of deaths YTD in 2023 was 187, compared to 150 in 2024. Despite the improvement, the figures suggest there's more work to be done.
Investments toward improving vulnerable road user safety have included more visible crosswalks, sidewalks, bikeways, and other road safety-centric designs. Over the past five years, TDOT boasts an investment in excess of $239 million across 300 safety projects, with nearly 15% dedicated to VRU-safety strategies.
Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley emphasized the collaborative nature of transportation safety, stating, "By signing this plan, we recognize that effective transportation safety relies on a vast network of partners, each playing a critical role." In his statement obtained by TDOT, Eley also added, “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.”
The updated SHSP is a joint effort that involves multiple agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and the Federal Highway Administration, all aiming to make Tennessee's roads safer and to steadily decrease the number of injuries and deaths resulting from traffic incidents.
