According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 40% of crashes happen at intersections.
What makes some intersections especially dangerous? The NHTSA explains it happens because “these are the locations where two or more roads cross each other and activities such as turning left, crossing over and turning right have the potential for conflicts resulting in crashes.” Statistics reflect that intersections are where approximately 25% of accident fatalities and 50% of accident injuries take place across the U.S. Some urban centers—New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Miami, and Phoenix—have several intersections that are risky to navigate. However, residents of major cities should not discourage; a 24/7 Wall Street study explains that rural states pose a greater danger to drivers than urban states. Russ Rader, a spokesman for the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) explains, “rural states have higher fatality rates than urban ones.” The reason is, Rader says, that collision speeds are higher, and there are more two-lane roads where risk is greater for head-on collisions.
Here are some such intersections in the United States:
Birmingham, Alabama
University Boulevard & 28th Street
Alabama’s most dangerous intersection is University Boulevard and 28th Street. High traffic and pedestrian volumes near a hospital and a major highway access point contribute to the number of crashes. According to 24/7 Wall Street, Alabama is 6th on the most dangerous state to drive list.
Glendale, Arizona
59th Avenue & Olive Avenue
According to an AZ Central article, the city of Glendale has seen its number of fatal vehicle collisions double from 2014 to 2016. 59th Avenue seems to be a danger magnet and having Glendale Community College in the vicinity might explain the accident rate on Olive Avenue.
Los Angeles, California
Devonshire Street & Reseda Boulevard
When it comes to the Golden State, more than 90% of the state’s dangerous intersections are located in Southern California. Topping the state’s most dangerous intersection charts is Devonshire Street and Reseda Boulevard, in Northridge. Drivers going fast, distracted drivers and cars coming out of driveways, including a busy car wash aggravate the situation.
Honolulu, Hawaii
1450 block of Ala Moana Blvd.
The well-known Ala Moana shopping center in Honolulu landed a spot on the list of most dangerous intersections. 312 accidents occurred in 2015 at the 1450 block of Alan Moana Boulevard (in front of the shopping center) due to high traffic volumes and numerous parking lots and exits.
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Knights Road & Street Road
This intersection is considered particularly dangerous in the country. It has seen 144 crashes in 2 years; some 36,000 people commute on Street Road every day. What makes this intersection different from others? Aggressive drivers, walkers, poor signage, dim lighting, and more.
Houston, Texas
Bissonnet Street & Sam Houston Parkway
Houston’s share of dangerous intersections is topped with Bissonnet Street and Sam Houston Parkway; in 4 years, the crossing has seen over 300 crashes with more than 263 injury-accidents. Feeder lanes next to toll roads are a common denominator in the accidents.
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Central Avenue & Yellowstone Road
The ninth state in size with the smallest population in the U.S., Wyoming has one of the most dangerous roads: US Highway 287 and also one hazardous intersection. Accident statistics in Wyoming reflect that many drivers are less likely to wear seat belts, that may be why there are 25.7 deaths for every 100,000 people.
Making America’s Intersections Safer
To improve road and intersection safety, federal, state, and local governments need to continue working together to implement necessary changes, including:
- Reducing speed limits
- Increasing visibility
- Enhance signage
- Target substance abuse impairment
- Make pedestrian crossways safer
Regardless of where in the country you’re driving, there will be hazards that put pedestrians, other drivers and cyclists in harm’s way. Remember to practice safe driving habits always.
Make sure you have a team of reliable people at your service when driving your vehicle. Call an Infinity agent at 1-800-INFINITY or get an online quote today.