Harlene Labrum | March 6, 2025 | Car Accident Lawyer Near Nashville Tennessee
Navigating Nashville Winter Roads: What You Need To Know To Stay Safe
When northern cities get snow, they’re ready for it, with fleets of plows and salt trucks set for deployment. However, a place like Nashville, TN, is too far south to justify that infrastructure, yet too far north to completely escape winter weather, making driving through the city during the season a potentially dangerous endeavor.
What We Learn From The Numbers
Davidson County (home to Nashville) reports a hefty amount of vehicle collisions. In particular, the Tennessee Department of Safety data shows that over 24,000 crashes occurred in 2023 alone, a figure that comes out to about 2,000 accidents every month.
These numbers spike during winter months, especially in December and January. On average, temperatures range between 32°F and 48°F during this period, which is the exact range in which rain can turn to ice and back again. As you might expect, these temperature swings make Nashville’s winters especially tricky.
The Problem With Temperature Swings
Nashville’s winter temperatures hover around the freezing point, creating perfect conditions for black ice. The sun comes out during the day, melting whatever precipitation fell overnight, and then temperatures drop and refreeze everything. Therefore, what looks like a wet patch of road could actually be more akin to an ice rink.
These conditions lead to many rear-end collisions on Nashville’s roads and highways, as drivers often fail to realize just how much following distance they need on these slick roads until it’s too late.
Nashville’s Additional Unique Challenges
The city’s hills and bridges create extra hazards. Areas like the I-440 interchange and the elevated sections of the Briley Parkway freeze faster than streets down below, and even flat roads get dangerous when temperatures hover near freezing.
Getting Your Car Ready
Most Nashville drivers consider their winter prep far too late, often choosing to wait until the first forecast of snow only to rush to get ready. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlights the following facts:
- Tire tread depth and pressure both change with temperature.
- Cold weather makes weak batteries fail.
- Brake responsiveness changes; wet roads need better brakes.
- Windshield wipers and washer fluid need special consideration since winter precipitation is different from rain.
Altogether, a vehicle’s winter preparation isn’t just about handling snow; it’s about handling uncertainty.
Additional Winter Driving Tips For Nashville
Careful Nashville drivers should do the following in winter:
- Check the overnight lows, not just the next day’s weather.
- Avoid bridges and overpasses after cold nights.
- Maintain twice their normal following distance even if the roads look fine.
- Keep an emergency kit with basics like a blanket and flashlight.
- Pay special attention to shaded areas, which stay icy for longer periods.
Winter weather accidents often happen because drivers don’t adjust their habits enough. A little extra focus and foresight can go a long way.
What To Do When Things Go Wrong
The worst winter accidents happen when drivers panic. If your car or truck starts sliding, remain calm and do the following:
- Refrain from slamming on the brakes (that just makes things worse).
- Turn your wheels in the direction you want to go.
- Look where you want to go, not at what you’re afraid of hitting.
- Keep your movements smooth and gentle.
These techniques work better than what your instincts may be pushing you to do.
Learning From Experience
There’s no strict set of rules that will keep you completely safe on Nashville’s roads during the winter. Only guidelines are available to help you more quickly adapt to the seasonal challenges. As such, in order to stay safe, you need to grasp what it is that makes the roads more dangerous during the season and adjust your driving behavior accordingly.
Contact the Nashville Car Accident Attorneys at Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers Today
For more information, please contact the Nashville car accident law firm of Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Nashville, Brentwood, and its surrounding areas in Tennessee:
Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers – Nashville
315 Deaderick St, Suite 1525
Nashville, TN 37238
(615) 685-8546
Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers – Brentwood
320 Seven Springs Way, Suite 250
Brentwood, TN 37027
(615) 455-3384
