Nashville Considers Speed Limit Reduction to Enhance Road Safety

Nashville Considers Speed Limit Reduction to Enhance Road Safety

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville is buzzing with discussions about road safety as Metro’s Traffic and Parking Commission is gearing up to debate an important issue next week. On October 14, they will consider a proposal to reduce speed limits on a significant stretch of road as part of the Vision Zero initiative. This ambitious program aims to eliminate all traffic accidents that result in deaths or serious injuries along the city’s roadways.

The Proposed Changes

If given the green light, the plan will lower speed limits on Hermitage Avenue and Lebanon Pike from Korean Veterans Boulevard all the way to the Wilson County line. That’s quite a stretch! The suggested reductions vary, coming in between 5 and 10 miles per hour depending on the specific location along these roads.

This request follows a series of worrying accidents in the area, including a case where a 50-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle while trying to cross the street. Such incidents have raised alarms about safety, especially since these roads are not just busy; they also see a significant volume of traffic daily.

Concerns from Local Officials

Not everyone is on board with the proposed changes, however. District 11 Councilmember, Jeff Eslick, has expressed some skepticism. He pointed out that the issue might not just be about speed limits but rather a pressing need for better law enforcement. “We have a lot of trucks,” Eslick explained. “There’s a quarry, an asphalt plant, and a concrete plant nearby. Those trucks speed down Old Hickory Boulevard and Lebanon Road all day long.”

Eslick emphasized that instead of simply lowering speed limits, he believes there should be stronger enforcement of the existing rules. “I’ve had conversations with NDOT and even the traffic division captain for the Metro Police Department,” he noted, adding that efforts to engage local police were ongoing. “All those meetings showed there’s not a priority in making traffic stops.”

The Department’s Stance

In defense of the proposed reduction, a spokesperson from the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) shared insight into how crucial they see this initiative. “Vision Zero is the number one priority of the department,” they stated. “We know that speed is the #1 contributing factor in roadway fatalities.”

The NDOT has conducted thorough studies on the traffic patterns in the area and concluded that a speed limit reduction would potentially improve safety. “We’ve been in touch with council members and have attended community meetings to present this proposal,” the spokesperson added. If the Traffic & Parking Commission approves this change, NDOT promises to collaborate with the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) to ensure that there will be enforcement of the new limits.

Traffic Stop Trends

Interestingly, the MNPD provided data showing that traffic stops in District 11 for the first three quarters of 2024 have exceeded those from the previous two years. Even with this uptick, Eslick remarked that the figures are misleading. “This data doesn’t reflect the massive drop in traffic stops since 2018,” he stated, highlighting concerns over enforcement effectiveness.

As the October 14 meeting approaches, Nashville residents are left wondering: will the city take steps to improve road safety with enforced regulations? Will we see a shift in how traffic laws are upheld? Only time will tell, but the conversations and decisions made there could shape the future of Nashville’s road safety.

For now, it remains essential for everyone on the road to remain aware of their surroundings, respect speed limits, and prioritize safety — no matter what changes come out of the commission’s discussions.