Cars and trucks are a necessary part of modern-day existence. You likely use your car multiple times a day, whether you’re commuting to and from work, dropping off and picking up your kids from school, or running errands. You rely on your vehicle to get from point A to B conveniently – unless, of course, you live in a big city.
Our country’s freeway system makes transportation so much easier. All you have to do is hop on to one of the highways, and you’ll get to your desired destination in no time. Without it, we would have no choice but to take backroad after backroad, which, as you can imagine, would be pretty inconvenient.
Anytime you hit the freeway, you face the possibility of getting into a car accident despite observing all the traffic laws. Car accident statistics show that some highways pose a higher risk of accidents than others. With that in mind, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the 25 deadliest freeways in the US.
How Many People Die in Car Accidents Every Year
According to the Global Status Report on Road Safety released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the total number of car accident deaths per year on roadways worldwide is estimated at $ 1.35 million.
In the US alone, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that the total number of fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes stands at 36,096. As a result, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) is estimated at 1.10.
The 25 Deadliest Highways in the US
A recent study by Teletrac ranks Interstate 4 as the country’s most dangerous highway based on the number of recorded deaths per mile. However, it is not the only one. More freeway accidents occur per mile in the Southern part of the country compared to the total recorded freeway deaths in Eastern US.
Knowing the roads to avoid could be the difference between arriving alive and not getting to your destination at all. Below are the 25 deadliest freeways in the US, based on the total per-mile fatalities that occurred in the period between 2016 and 2019.
1. Interstate 4
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-4 is 1.134 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Tampa, FL, and Daytona Beach, FL. The worst hour to be on traveling on I-4 is midnight to 1 a.m., especially on a Sunday. The deadliest city on the highway in Orlando, FL.
2. Interstate 45
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-45 is 0.913, with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Dallas, TX and Galveston, TX. You’re most likely to get into an accident on 45 between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on a Saturday. The deadliest city on the highway is Houston, TX.
3. US 192
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on highway 192 is 0.867 with the deadliest stretch being the section between Four Corners, FL, and Indialantic, FL. The worst hour to be on traveling on the 192 is 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., particularly on Wednesdays. The deadliest city on the highway is Kissimmee, FL.
4. Interstate 17
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-17 is 0.707 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Flagstaff, AZ and Phoenix, AZ. The worst hour to be on traveling on the I-17 is 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on a Friday. The deadliest city on the highway is Phoenix, AZ.
5. US 92
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on highway 92 is 0.706 with the deadliest stretch being the section between St. Petersburg, FL, and Daytona Beach, FL. You’re most likely to get into a highway accident on the 92 between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on a Wednesday. If that’s the case, you’ll need a lawyer for car accident cases. The deadliest city on the highway is Tampa, FL.
6. Interstate 12
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-12 is 0.666 with the deadliest stretch being the section between Baton Rouge, LA, and Slidell, LA. The worst hour to be traveling on I-12 is 1 a.m. to 2 a.m., especially on a Saturday. The deadliest city on the highway is Baton Rouge, LA.
7. Interstate 30
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-30 is 0.646 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Aledo, TX and North Little Rock, AR. The worst hour to be on traveling on I-30 is 5 a.m. to 6 a.m., particularly on Fridays. The deadliest city on the highway is Dallas, TX.
8. Interstate 95
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-95 is 0.637 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Miami, FL, and Houlton, FL. You’re most likely to get into an accident on 95 between 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., especially on a Saturday. If this happens to you, you’ll need to get in touch with an experienced highway accident lawyer as soon as possible. The deadliest city on the highway is Jacksonville, FL.
9. Interstate 19
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-19 is 0.631 with the deadliest stretch being the section between Nogales, AZ, and Tucson, AZ. The worst hour to be on traveling on I-19 is midnight to 1 a.m., particularly on Wednesdays. The deadliest city on the highway is Sahuarita, AZ.
10. Interstate 85
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-85 is 0.613 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Montgomery, AL and Petersburg, VA. The worst hour to be traveling on I-85 is 4 a.m. to 5 a.m., especially on a Sunday morning. The deadliest city on the highway is Charlotte, NC.
11. Interstate 5
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-5 is 0.609 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between San Ysidro, CA, and Blaine, WA. The worst hour to be on traveling on I-5 is 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sundays. The deadliest city on the highway is Los Angeles, CA.
12. Interstate 10
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-10 is 0.597 with the deadliest stretch being the section between Santa Monica, CA and Jacksonville, FL.
You’re most likely to get into an Interstate 10 freeway accident between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., especially on a Saturday. If that’s the case, you’ll need to retain the services of a car and truck accident law firm whether or not you’re at fault.
The two most common 18 wheeler accident causes on the I-10 are driving in a truck’s blind spot and vehicles not merging fast enough into interstate traffic.
More often than not, any truck-related accident on 40, I80 accident, as well as those that occur on major highways like the I-49 and I-55, can be attributed to one of those two factors. The deadliest cities on the I-10 are Houston, TX, and El Paso, TX.
13. Interstate 20
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-20 is 0.549 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Scroggins Draw, TX, and Florence, SC. You’re most likely to get into an I20 accident between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., particularly on a Sunday. The deadliest city on the highway is Dallas, TX.
14. Interstate 35W
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-35W is 0.528 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Hillsboro, TX and Denton, TX. The worst hour to be traveling on I-35W is 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., especially on Thursdays. The deadliest city on the highway is Fort Worth, TX.
15. Interstate 24
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-24 is 0.527 with the deadliest stretch being the section between Pulleys Mill, IL, and East Ridge, TN. The worst hour to be traveling on I-24 is 1 a.m. to 2 a.m., especially on a Saturday. The deadliest city on the highway is Nashville, TN.
16. Interstate 75
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-75 is 0.521 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Miami Lakes, FL, and Sault Ste. Marie, MI. The worst hour to be on traveling on I-75 is 4 a.m. to 5 a.m., particularly on Saturdays. The deadliest city on the highway is Atlanta, GA.
17. Interstate 83
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-83 is 0.506 with the deadliest stretch being the section between Baltimore, MD, and Progress, PA. You’re most likely to get into an interstate accident on I-83 between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., especially on a Friday evening.
If this happens to you, get in touch with a car accident law firm in your area as soon as possible. The deadliest city on the highway is Baltimore, MD.
18. Interstate 26
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on I-26 is 0.496 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Kingsport, TN, and Charleston, SC. The worst hour to be traveling on I-26 is 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., particularly on Thursdays. The deadliest city on the highway is North Charleston, SC.
19. Interstate 35E
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-35E is 0.496 with the deadliest stretch being the section between Hillsboro, TX and Denton, TX. You’re most likely to get into a car or truck accident on I-35E between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., especially on a Monday. The deadliest city on the highway is Dallas, TX.
20. US 199
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on highway 199 is 0.488 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Crescent City, CA, and Grants Pass, OR. The worst hour to be traveling on 199 is 11 p.m. to midnight, especially on Thursday nights. The deadliest city on the highway is Grants Pass, OR.
21. Interstate 65
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-65 is 0.485 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Mobile, AL, and Gary, IN. You’re most likely to be involved in a car accident on 65 between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on a Sunday. The deadliest city on the highway is Nashville, TN.
22. US 17
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on highway 17 is 0.462 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Punta Gorda, FL, and Winchester, VA. You’re most likely to get into a freeway accident while traveling on the 17 between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., particularly on a Saturday night. The deadliest city on the highway is Charleston, SC.
23. US 11W
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on highway 11W is 0.462 with the deadliest stretch being the section between Knoxville, TN, and Bristol, VA. The worst hour to be traveling on 11W is 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., especially on a Wednesday evening. The deadliest city on the highway is Kingsport, TN.
24. US 175
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on highway 175 is 0.447 with the deadliest stretch of highway being the section between Dallas, TX and Jacksonville, FL. The worst hour to be on traveling on 175 is midnight to 1 a.m., particularly on Sundays. The deadliest city on the highway is Dallas, TX.
25. Interstate 66
The total number of recorded fatalities per mile on the I-66 is 0.446 with the deadliest stretch being the section between Strasburg, VA, and Arlington, VA. The worst hour to be on traveling on I-66 is 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., especially on Sunday mornings. The deadliest cities on the highway are Washington, DC, and New Stanton, PA.
Get an Experienced Attorney to Help
There you have it – the 25 deadliest freeways in the US. If you get into a car or truck accident on 101, I-4, I-45, or any other major freeway, get in touch with a competent highway accident lawyer as soon as possible, whether you’re the at-fault party or not.
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