The United States has one of the most extensive and active highway systems in the world. However, with such volume and constant movement, certain routes are consistently more hazardous than others. Below is a list of the ten most dangerous highways in the country, based on crash frequency and fatality rates.
These are the Most Dangerous Highways in the United States
1) US-1 — Florida, Maryland, and Maine
US-1 spans approximately 2,369 miles along the East Coast. The Florida segment is considered the most hazardous, with over 1,000 fatalities recorded in the last decade. Central Florida, in particular, experiences a fatal crash rate of 2.8 per million vehicles. Maryland and Maine sections have also reported over 220 combined fatalities in the same time period. The highway that stretches 545 miles and runs through 13 counties in Central Florida has a fatal crash rate of 2.8 accidents per million vehicles, according to a study by a fleet management company Geotab.
2) I-95 — Connecticut, Idaho, North Carolina, and Rhode Island
Interstate 95 stretches nearly 1,920 miles through 15 states. The Connecticut segment sees approximately 15 fatal crashes annually. Other dangerous stretches include Idaho and North Carolina, with combined fatalities exceeding 300 over the last decade. Rhode Island’s segment, known for its closely spaced exits, has recorded nearly 40 fatalities.
3) I-40 — New Mexico, Tennessee, Arizona, and California
I-40 is another major highway that runs through the south-central part of the US. The sections of the 2,559.25 miles highway in Tennessee, Arizona, and California are among the deadliest roads in the country. Interstate 40, spanning more than 2,500 miles, runs through several high-risk states. Tennessee’s section averages 43 fatal crashes annually. Arizona and New Mexico report 25 and 34 fatal crashes per year, respectively. In New Mexico alone, nearly 400 fatalities have occurred in the last decade.
The highway is one of the busiest in the US, due to which the chances of accidents are quite high. The stretch of highway that runs through the state is windy, chilly, and hilly. This, in addition to the high traffic volume, makes the highway one of the most dangerous roads in the country.
4) I-45 — Illinois
I-45 is a 284-mile highway running exclusively through Texas, from Dallas to Galveston. It ranks among the most dangerous due to high traffic volume, weather risks, and impaired driving. Over 110 fatalities were reported in the last decade, particularly around the Houston area. Between 2011 and 2015, there were nearly 51 fatal crashes in the area. Drunk driving and inclement weather accounted for most of the crashes in the region.
5) I-17 — Arizona
I-17 is a relatively small stretch of highway located completely in Arizona. The 145.76 miles highway that runs from Flagstaff to Phoenix has a fatal crash rate of 0.82. Most of the fatalities occur in the state’s capital city of Phoenix.
6) I-65 — Alabama
I-65 runs cross-county from north to south. Some sections of the 887.30-mile highway in Alabama are considered quite dangerous. There have been nearly 389 fatalities in Alabama alone over the past decade. An average of 33 fatal crashes occurs every year in the state.
7) US 90 — Louisiana
The US 90 is an east-west major highway that stretches over 1633 miles. The section of the highway in Louisiana is considered one of the deadliest due to a high number of fatal crashes every year.
Over the past 10 years, nearly 295 fatalities have occurred in the area. The fatality rate is also relatively high at 1.2 per million vehicles. This is the same area were actress Jayne Mansfield was tragically killed in 1967. US-90 stretches across multiple states, but the Louisiana section ranks among the deadliest, with nearly 300 fatalities in ten years. A fatal crash rate of 1.2 per million vehicles highlights its risk. This region has long been recognized for its dangerous traffic conditions.
8. US-83 — Texas
The US-83 is another major highway that spreads over 1,885 miles from the north to the south of the US. The section of the highway in Texas is considered deadly with a lot of fatalities occurring every year. There has been an average of nearly 26 fatalities over the past decade.
9) I-5 — Washington
I-5 is a 1,381.29-mile road that runs north to south on the eastern coast. The section in Washington, California, is one of the busiest with a lot of crashes occurring every year. Latest statistics show that there were nearly 258 fatalities in the area. Every year, 25 fatal crashes occur in the region.
10) I-80 — Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Nevada & Pennsylvania
I-80 is an east-west transcontinental freeway that stretches for 2899.59 miles. The sections of the highway in Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Nevada are considered one of the most deadly in the US. The fatal crash rate is particularly high in Wyoming with 1.4 crashes per million vehicles. Nearly 207 fatalities have occurred in the region in the past 10 years. In addition, the fatal crashes in Nebraska are also high with 235 fatalities in the same period.
The fatal crash rates in Iowa and Nevada section of I-80 are also high with 188 and 170 fatalities respectively occurring in the past decade. The highway section of Pennsylvania was the scene of 106 crashes with 115 fatalities in the previous 10 years.
Finding a Truck Accident Lawyer Across the United States
Semi trucks travel these dangerous highways every day, and if you or a family member was injured in a trucking accident you should connect with a semi truck accident attorney as soon as possible. A qualified accident lawyer will look at all the circumstances to prepare a strong case for you. Getting the help of an attorney will increase the chances of a successful lawsuit if you choose to pursue legal action.
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