We drive them every day, yet some are more dangerous than others. Some highways routinely experience more crashes than others, whether it’s due to a high-speed limit, the volume of automobiles traveling on it, or the state of the road itself.
Some of these routes are roads or interstates, while others cover specific cities or states.
Overall, the roads in these areas are in poor condition, making for a rough and sometimes dangerous journey. Or in other places, it’s the drivers that you need to be cautious of.
Places with the worst roads in the U.S.
Washington D.C.
The International Roughness Index is used by the US Department of Transportation to determine how a vehicle moves vertically from road bumps. A score of less than 95 inches per mile is considered good, while a score of more than 170 inches per mile is considered bad. The roadways in our nation’s capital received the highest score of 214.7. If you’re traveling through D.C., buckle up!
Connecticut
The Federal Highway Administration’s State Highway Infrastructure Report indicates that approximately 17% of non-interstate roadways are in bad condition. While the state is improving road conditions, they are still falling short of their goal.
Omaha, NE
You may believe that drivers in your neighborhood are horrible for blocking the passing lane or failing to use turn signals. However, when aggregating accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, moving violations, and insurance claims, drivers in Omaha, NE rank last. They were number one in DUIs and in the top 15 in every other category. Birmingham, AL, on the other hand, has the best drivers, with fewer speeding penalties and driving violations than anywhere else.
Let us now visit the 10 most dangerous roads in the U.S.
I-5 in California
It is frequently listed as the deadliest road in the United States, with data suggesting that 544 fatal crashes killed 584 people between 2015 and 2019. One of the most dangerous roads in the U.S., this road gets especially perilous during rain because many people are not acclimated to driving in wet circumstances.
I-25 in New Mexico
The second of the most dangerous roads in the U.S. is I-25 in New Mexico. The road that runs from the Mexican border to Colorado, which passes through Albuquerque and Santa Fe, averages 25 fatalities per year, with 89% of fatal crashes occurring in clear weather. The most common causes of accidents noted here are speeding, congestion, and distracted driving.
I-4 in Florida
The 130-mile stretch of freeway between Tampa and Daytona Beach is one of the most dangerous roads in the U.S., with 1.2 deaths per mile on average each year. However, the Florida Department of Transportation claims that they are working to dramatically reduce that number.
I-45 in Texas
There will inevitably be more accidents when there are more drivers. Houston is the most populous city in Texas, and Interstate 45 runs through the core of the city from Galveston to Dallas. It was designated the most dangerous highway in the country in 2019, with 56 fatal accidents per 100 miles and the greatest incidence of drunk driving fatalities (17.5 per 100 miles). Unfortunately, trends will not change in 2021. The number of miles traveled was down 13%, but traffic deaths were up 8%.
I-40, Tennessee
Tennessee’s I-40 is next on the list of the most dangerous roads in the U.S. I-40, which connects the state’s three main cities, has 427 collisions and 517 fatalities.
I-65, Alabama.
I-65, sometimes known as “Heroes Highway,” has 336 collisions and 34 fatalities every year.
I-90, Louisiana.
Next on the most dangerous roads in the U.S. is the I-90, Louisiana. Although I-90 has 27 fatal crashes per year on average, its most well-known tragedy was the death of actress Jayne Mansfield on this roadway in 1967. It has resulted in 271 crashes and 295 fatalities in the last decade.
I-40, Arizona.
When it was first completed, this roadway replaced most of the famed Route 66. In the last 10 years, I-40 has seen 249 crashes and 293 fatalities.
I-95, South Carolina.
Next on the most dangerous roads in the U.S. is the South Carolina I-95. This route, which runs parallel to the state’s Atlantic Coast, was the site of 244 crashes and 301 fatalities.
I-95, North Carolina.
The last of the most dangerous roads in the U.S. is the I-95, North Carolina. The Dick Fleming Freeway is part of this motorway, which extends from South Carolina to Virginia. In the last decade, there have been 201 crashes.