Tennessee traffic deaths tick up as distracted driving spikes
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Traffic death rates have ticked up in Tennessee and around the country recently, and experts say a surge in distracted driving has contributed to the trend.
State of play: A crash involving a distracted driver happens every 43 minutes in Tennessee, according to the latest state data.
The big picture: The consequences can be lethal. About 3,300 people died nationwide in crashes attributed to distracted driving in 2022, according to the most recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.
Zoom in: Tennessee topped the nation for distracted driving deaths from 2015-2017.
- Leaders have sought to crack down on the problem since then. In 2019, Tennessee enacted a law banning handheld cellphone use behind the wheel.
Yes, but: The threat persists. The Tennessee Department of Transportation noted an "alarming increase" in distracted driving last year.
Zoom out: In addition to the dire safety threat, distracted driving also has a financial toll. The state reported the one-year cost of those crashes in Tennessee amounted to more than $310 million.
What's happening: Throughout April, an awareness campaign targeting distracted driving is taking place in Tennessee.