Nashville approves lower speed limits on Dickerson Pike

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - On Monday the Nashville Traffic and Parking Commission voted to reduce the speed limit on Dickerson Pike by 5 mph. This will start at Berry Street and extend up to Goodlettsville.

Tina Lunghofer works at Mallard’s and has a perfect view of Dickerson Pike. She says every day she can see cars flying down the hill.

“It’s crazy. It’s a little bit crazy. A lot of accidents,” Lunghofer said.

Those accidents are partially why the city approved a speed reduction. The map below shows the changes that will be made in each section.

Lunghofer has some doubts.

“I don’t really honestly believe that is going to stop any kind of accident from happening. Because people just don’t pay attention,” Lunghofer said.

But the city says this will lessen the impact of crashes.

“Studies have shown by reducing the speed limit actually reduces the survival rate for pedestrian being struck by a car,” NDOT Director Diana Alarcon said in the Monday commission meeting.

It’s worked in another city. Seattle made the change in 2016 and has seen a 17% drop in the odds of a crash with injuries.

Lunghofer says that’s great - but also wants to stop crashes before they happen.

“The cars want to get across before you know that line of traffic comes. And that’s when they try to dart out and that’s when you know the car that is speeding just hits them,” Lunghofer said.

She says a light would work better because it’s harder to ignore and would give people another place to cross. Others said they would also like to see more police enforcing the limit.

“I do really think a stoplight would be more appropriate than lowering the speed limit,” Lunghofer said.

But lowered speed limit or not- she has a message for anyone getting on the pike:

“Without using a cuss word? Slow the heck down,” Lunghofer said.

This is all part of Nashville’s Vision Zero initiative to eliminate pedestrian deaths in the city

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