The identification of the most dangerous highway in the United States varies based on different studies and data sources. Here, I’ll present an overview of several highways that have been identified as particularly dangerous, using multiple sources for a comprehensive understanding.
- Interstate 95 (I-95): According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), I-95 was the most dangerous highway in the U.S. in 2019, with the highest number of overall fatalities (284) and fatalities per 100 miles (14.88). These accidents frequently occurred in the northeast during winter when road conditions were challenging.
- Texas State Route 12 (SR-12): This 20-mile stretch in Texas recorded 22 fatal accidents in 2019, translating to 112.2 fatal accidents per 100 miles, marking it as a highly dangerous road.
- US-93 in Arizona: US-93 in Arizona saw 70 fatal crashes and 90 fatalities, making it one of the most dangerous highways, with a high concentration of fatal crashes occurring in Mohave County.
- Interstate 4 (I-4) in Florida: Running from Tampa to Daytona Beach, I-4 is considered the most dangerous highway according to data from Teletrac Navman. Between 2016 and 2019, this road saw 150 traffic-related deaths, with Orlando being a notable location for fatalities.
- California’s I-5: From 2015 to 2019, I-5 experienced 544 deadly crashes resulting in 584 fatalities. This equates to 107.4 deaths for every 100 crashes, with the deadliest spot being in San Diego County.
Additionally, a comprehensive study by Teletrac Navman, which pulled data from the Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS) of the NHTSA, provides a detailed ranking of the deadliest roads in the U.S. based on vehicle-related fatalities per mile.
The top ten from this study are:
- I-4 in Florida: 1.134 deaths per mile, deadliest in Orlando.
- I-45 in Texas: 0.913 deaths per mile, deadliest in Houston.
- US 192 in Florida: 0.867 deaths per mile, deadliest in Kissimmee.
- I-17 in Arizona: 0.707 deaths per mile, deadliest in Phoenix.
- US 92 in Florida: 0.706 deaths per mile, deadliest in Tampa.
- I-12 in Louisiana: 0.666 deaths per mile, deadliest in Baton Rouge.
- I-30 in Texas and Arkansas: 0.646 deaths per mile, deadliest in Dallas.
- I-95 stretching from Miami to Maine: 0.637 deaths per mile, deadliest in Jacksonville, Florida.
- I-19 in Arizona: 0.631 deaths per mile, deadliest in Sahuarita.
- I-85 from Alabama to Virginia: 0.613 deaths per mile, deadliest in Charlotte, North Carolina.
These highways are characterized by high rates of fatalities and are spread across various regions of the United States, demonstrating the widespread nature of road safety challenges. The data underscores the importance of cautious driving, especially in these high-risk areas.
