Tennessee Ranks 8th Worst for Drivers, Knoxville Instructors Say Speeding Is a Major Issue

Tennessee ranks 8th in the nation for worst drivers, according to a new report from Consumer Affairs, with more than 1,300 deadly crashes reported last year. The leading cause: dangerous or improper driving.

At Volunteer Driving Academy in Knoxville, instructors Patrick and Daniel Torkelson say the ranking reflects what they see daily.

“You’ve got people that go zipping by you — lots of speeders and people always in a hurry,” said Patrick Torkelson.

The report also found that 43% of crashes involve drivers ages 16 to 25. Daniel Torkelson says younger drivers can be overconfident and easily distracted, especially by their phones.

The instructors also point to Knoxville’s rapid growth and increased traffic as possible factors. Still, they stress that practicing safe driving habits is key to reducing crashes.