Tennessee Driving Record

Tennessee Driver License

If you live in Tennessee and want to drive a motor vehicle, you must have a valid Tennessee driver license or Certificate for Driving (CFD).

Tennessee Seat Belt Law

The use of safety belts, child restraint safety seats and child booster seats are required by Tennessee law. These can help save you and your passengers’ lives in the event of a traffic crash. Tennessee law enforcement officers can stop drivers and issue citations for failure to observe the seatbelt or child restraint laws. Officers can stop and ticket drivers solely for disobeying Seatbelt and Child Restraint Device (CRD) laws.

Tennessee Drunk Driving

Drinking and driving poses several problems. One is the probability of an accident, and another is being arrested for DUI. The penalties for a DUI arrest are the same whether the driver was drinking alcohol or taking drugs (even prescription or over-the-counter drugs). If you are arrested for DUI, the consequences can be severe.

By law, when you drive in Tennessee, you have given your consent to be tested to determine the alcohol or drug content of your blood. This test must be administered at the request of a law enforcement officer who has reasonable grounds to believe you have been driving under the influence of an intoxicant or drug.

Other Tennessee Driving Facts

• In Tennessee, it is illegal to stand on a roadway to solicit a ride. Hitchhiking is not only dangerous for the pedestrian, but also to the driver of the vehicle who stops to pick up a stranger
• Tennessee law only requires the yellow light to be exhibited for a minimum of three seconds before the red light
• Tennessee state law requires that if a signal is not working, the intersection is to be treated as if it were a four-way stop intersection. Stop as you would if there were stop signs in all directions
• Using headlights when wipers are in use is not just a good safety precaution — it’s Tennessee law!
• Throwing papers, bottles, cans, or disposing of other material from vehicles are all forms of littering. Littering is against state law, with maximum fines of up to $500 and 10 days in jail. Keep Tennessee clean – don’t litter!
• In Tennessee, it is a common and accepted practice for oncoming traffic to pull to the side of the roadway as a sign of respect when meeting a funeral precession. Tennessee law instructs the following:
• Vehicles following a funeral procession on a two-lane highway may not attempt to pass such procession; and
• No operator of a vehicle shall drive between vehicles in a properly identified funeral procession except when directed to do so by a traffic officer
• Speed is a major contributing factor that causes fatal accidents in Tennessee. Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit on primary and secondary state and federal highways is 55 m.p.h.
• Tennessee law states: “The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.”
• Tennessee law states: Every driver approaching a stop sign shall stop before entering the nearest side of a crosswalk, or stop at a clearly marked stop line. If neither is present, then (1) stop at a point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway, and (2) stop before entering the actual intersection.
• Tennessee law requires certain vehicles to stop at all railroad grade/highway crossings, whether or not any signs or signals are activated when the vehicle approaches a railroad crossing.
• Tennessee law requires that when an emergency vehicle is approaching, all traffic meeting or being overtaken must yield the right-of-way and immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to the right hand edge or curb of the roadway stop.
• Tennessee’s Move Over Law requires that when approaching any stationary vehicles, you must make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the vehicle, or proceed with caution by reducing the speed of the vehicle and maintaining a safe speed for the current road conditions.
• Tennessee law allows a right turn on red and left turns on red at certain one-way to one-way intersections, unless otherwise posted.
• It is illegal in Tennessee for any driver to make a U-turn on an interstate highway.
• If you are involved in a traffic crash on the interstate, Tennessee law allows you to move the vehicle to help prevent blocking the traffic flow
• Under Tennessee law, you must not leave the scene of any type of crash, but, while remaining at the scene, you should not “unnecessarily block traffic.”
• In most states, including Tennessee, .08 is the level of intoxication which is always illegal.

Tennessee Point System

Additional Tennessee Resources

• Tennessee Driver's Manual
• Drinking & Driving Violations
• Driving Without a License / With a Suspended License
• Driving Without Insurance / With Insufficient Insurance
• Driving Without Registration / With Expired Registration
• Illegal U-Turn
• Leaving the Scene of an Accident / Hit & Run
• Leaving the Scene of an Accident / Hit & Run
• Mechanical Violations
• Reckless Driving
• Running a Red Light / Stop Sign
• Seat Belt / Child Restraint Violations
• Seat Belt / Child Restraint Violations
• Speeding
• Unlawful Vehicle Modifications