Nashville saw more pedestrian deaths in 2022 than any prior year. Police statistics show 49 people died, mostly when crossing high-speed city streets.
Metro has been trying to make crossings safer, and officials have committed to what’s known as “Vision Zero,” in which cities strive to end all pedestrian and driving deaths. But in the past five years, nearly 200 pedestrians have died in Nashville.
Annual records have risen multiple times, and 49 deaths in 2022 was 25% higher than 39 in 2021.
Safety advocates urge drivers to be extra careful during winter months, when there’s more travel time during dark conditions, and to slow down on major roads, where collisions are much harder to survive.
On New Year’s Day, a man died crossing Murfreesboro Pike. Police say a 17-year-old driver from Mt. Juliet initially left the scene, but returned later and was charged.
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