Constable Smith is on the scene of a crash vs a deer in the early morning hours. The driver was in the passing lane traveling at 60 mph in a 55 mph posted zone. As you can see from the photo, visibility is significantly reduced due to the fog. In conditions like this, a more reasonable and prudent speed would have been 35-40 mph to give the driver the ability to react to unexpected events and changing road conditions.
Our Tennessee laws define expected driving behaviors that keep everyone safe, as a minimum standard. Your safety matters!
Important to know:
TCA § 55-8-204 - Passing Lane Violation - On interstate and multilane divided highways that are two (2) or more lanes in each direction, a person shall not operate a vehicle in the passing lane, except when overtaking or passing a vehicle that is in a nonpassing lane.
TCA § 55-8-152 and related statutes address the requirement for drivers to maintain a speed that is "reasonable and prudent" given the current conditions, including traffic, weather, and visibility. Drivers must operate their vehicles at a speed that is appropriate for the conditions at the time. This includes considering the traffic density, road surface, weather conditions, visibility, and any other factors that could affect safe driving.
