Driving on dangerous roads is one of the easiest ways to end up in the hospital, confronting the dual specter of massive personal injury and car repair bills. Unfortunately, those of us who live in Tennessee are plagued by some of the deadliest roads in the United States, thanks to the unpredictability of the weather, the necessity for roads to wind through valleys and around mountains, and the pathetic amount of government funds set aside to repair and replenish the roads system. Here are a few of the most terrifying roads in Tennessee — drive them at your own risk, and remember, slow and steady wins the race!
Interstate 24
Although this roadway is located closer to the center of Tennessee than the state’s eastern boundary, it is certainly dangerous enough to include on this list. This highway’s Monteagle Moutain stretch is infamous in the region for the challenges it poses eighteen wheelers: the trucks must make the steep climb up the mountain face, then descend at a perilous angle while encountering various twists, turns and blind spots. Although Interstate 24 has been gradually improved through the introduction of gravel truck ramps, the sight of the initial climb still gives many truckers pause.
Highway 129
Also known as “the dragon” or “the dragon’s tail”, this roadway is consistently visited by motorcyclists who use the roadway as a testing ground for their skills: the mountain road’s windy conditions and sharp turns have claimed many lives in their illustrious history. During winter in Tennessee, visibility on the dragon is close to zero, but truckers must traverse the road if they are traveling south to Georgia. This combination naturally leads to many, many accidents, with more than a few being fatal: WBIR Knoxville reports that the dragon has been the scene for 13 fatal accidents between 2008 and 2012 (which is the most recent year for which data is available.) Try your best to avoid this passage, especially if you’re driving a truck or a big SUV.
Highway 33
Known locally as the Maynardville highway, this stretch of road that runs from Knoxville to Maynardville has been responsible for the deaths of many motorists. Because it is a relatively highly traveled corridor in the eastern part of Tennessee, the relative amount of automobile accidents is extremely high. Like the other highways on this list, the dangers of this roadway mainly lie in its alternately steep elevations and rapid declines.
Chapman Highway
This is actually, by the numbers, the deadliest highway in East Tennessee — from 2008 to 2010, a whopping 24 drivers and passengers lost their lives on this quaint country road that winds through three major counties. The road is notorious for causing crossovers, where cars cross wildly into other lanes and take out other drivers. Because of this propensity, many Tennessee drivers have learned to simply stay to the right on this highway — better to be late, but alive!
If you experience an accident on any of these roadways in Tennessee, you should retain the services of a practiced personal injury lawyer in order to protect the rights and privileges of yourself and your family. Contact a personal injury lawyer at your convenience for a consultation.
