Safety should always be a priority in everything you do. How can you achieve your dreams if you’re trying to recover from an accident, right? This is why it’s essential to know which roads to avoid and when to do so. Thanks to data compiled by Teletrac Navman, we can now access vital information about when and where fatal traffic accidents most commonly occur.
Teletrac Navman derives this information by analyzing all the fatality data gathered in the US on numbered highway routes as well as the Interstate Highway System (with their current data ranging from 2011-2015). They then turned this into an infographic accompanied by a map that shows which highways are the deadliest. These are ranked based on deaths per mile, calendar day, month, day of the week, and time of the day.
The group has also recorded which cities along the highway seem to encounter the most traffic accidents. Part of Teletrac Navman’s mission is to determine which accident types are most common, and in what areas. For example, for 1-4 roads in Florida, the most common dangerous event is motorcycles colliding with an illegally parked vehicle on the highway. The second accident prone to happen in these areas is overturned vehicles, while the third is incidents involving pedestrians. This brilliant project uses the fine level of detail you can reach by having many cross-referenced data points to hopefully save some lives.
Interstate 4
First on this list is the 132-mile Interstate 4 highway that stretches from Tampa Bay to Daytona Beach, Florida. With 1.25 deaths per mile and a total of 165 fatalities from 2011 to 2015, I-4 ranks as one of the most dangerous highways in the US.
According to Teletrac Navman, Orlando is the deadliest city on this highway. If you’re planning to drive on these roads on a Sunday or on the 10th of January, think again because these days show a spike in recorded accidents.
Interstate 45
Next up is I-45 which goes all the way from Dallas, Texas to Galveston, Texas. These roads are recorded to hold 1.02 deaths per mile, which is a lot. The I-45’s deadliest city is Houston, Texas. Over the years, I-45 has witnessed almost 290 accidents from 2011 to 2015.
Its most dangerous time is on November 12th and usually on a Saturday from 2:00 to 2:59. Numbers don’t lie. So if you already have plans, try to move it away from this time and date as much as possible as a precaution.
US Route 192
The 75-mile-long US 192 highway, which extends through Florida from Four Corners to Indialantic, joins this list of the most dangerous roads in the country. Why? Well, it has witnessed 65 accidents from 2011 to 2015.
If you have no choice but to traverse US Route 192, then you must take extra caution when driving through Melbourne, Florida as records show that this is the most dangerous city. Keep in mind that as far as statistics go, Fridays and October 8th are a fatal time for this highway.
Interstate 17
With a record of .84 deaths per mile and a total of 123 fatalities from 2011 to 2015, I-17 can be a dangerous place. That’s why we advise everyone to drive cautiously when traveling between Flagstaff and Phoenix, Arizona. The 146-mile stretch of road can be quite unforgiving, as the data shows.
Phoenix, Arizona is home to the most accidents, so it’s best to slow down and keep your mind alert and focused on the road. If you can, avoid driving in this area on Saturdays or on March 3rd from 3 pm to 4 pm. Data shows most accidents occur within those times, so it wouldn’t hurt to keep that in mind when planning any trips in this region.
Interstate 95
Who doesn’t love going to Florida? While the Sunshine State is beautiful, a read through the Teletrac Navman Infographic shows it’s also home to some of the nation’s most dangerous stretches of road. Take, for example, I-95, which takes drivers from Miami to Weston, Massachusetts. It’s probably one of the longest roads on this list as it stretches over 1,920 miles.
I-95 is known to be as dangerous as it is long, with an average death per mile of .73. From 2011 to 2015, there have been 1,402 recorded deaths, an overwhelming number to say the least. Please be extra cautious when navigating these roads, and if at all possible, avoid driving on Sundays between 1 pm and 2 pm and on the 1st of July.
Interstate 10
The 1,920-mile-long I-10 starts in Santa Monica, California and ends in Jacksonville, Florida. Its deadliest city is Houston, with a deaths per mile rate of .703. The highway is infamous for its staggeringly high number of fatalities, with 2,460 deaths recorded from 2011 to 2015.
If you can, it’s best to avoid I-10 on Saturdays, and on July 1st from 2 pm to 3 pm as most accidents were recorded during these times. If you have no choice but to use I-10 on these days, take extra care. Going the extra mile for safety should always be a priority.
US Route 175
US Route 175 stretches over 111 miles from Dallas to Jacksonville, Texas. Teletrac Navman’s data shows an average of .69 deaths per mile, with the most dangerous city being Dallas. From 2011 to 2015, a total of 76 deaths were recorded.
Based on the data provided by Teletrac Navman, most accidents occurred in this region on April 3rd, and Sundays around 1 pm to 2 pm. So be sure to fasten your seatbelts before driving in this area around those times.
Interstate 37
I-37 starts in San Antonio and ends in Corpus Christi, Texas. Records show that it was home to 93 total fatalities from 2011 to 2015 (that’s .65 deaths per mile), and the deadliest city is San Antonio.
Records also suggest that the road is most likely to witness accidents on December 26th and on Fridays from 2 pm to 3 pm. While these times are, statistically speaking, the most dangerous, it’s still best if you drive cautiously all the time.
US Route 290
US Route 290 is a 261-mile road that starts from the junction with Interstate 10 in Harper and ends in Houston, Texas. It has an average death rate per mile of .63, with the deadliest city said to be Austin, Texas. Records suggest that this route is more accident-prone on April 22nd and Saturdays between 3 pm and 4 pm.
Be mindful of pedestrian crossings, overturned cars, and slippery roads because these are the top three accident triggers. US 290 witnessed 165 total fatalities from 2011 to 2015, so travel with care.
Interstate 78
From 2011 to 2015, the 144-mile-long I-78 highway has witnessed over 90 fatalities. It starts from Union Township, Pennsylvania and takes travelers all the way to New York City. Records suggest that accidents are most likely to happen around Jersey City, New Jersey. December 25th and Mondays from 3 pm to 4 pm are the most dangerous times to be on this road.
Be on the lookout for illegally parked cars, embankments, and overturned cars as these are the top three causes of accidents in this area.
Interstate 75
I-75 stretches over 1,786 miles, starting in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and ending in Miami Lakes, Florida. Data shows that it has an average death rate per mile of .599 and that Atlanta, Georgia, is one of its deadliest cities. From 2011 to 2015, there were more than 1,070 fatalities along 1-75.
Watch out for overturned cars, cars being transported, and crossing pedestrians as these are the top three major causes of accidents within these areas.
Interstate 26
Teletrac Navman’s infographic reveals that I-26 – which goes from Kingsport, Tennessee to Charleston, South Carolina – deals with an average of .59 deaths per mile. With over 349 miles, its total number of fatalities was 206 from 2011 to 2015.
I-26’s top three accident causes are with cars being transported, trees, and overturned cars. So you should be extra vigilant around such circumstances. The data also revealed that most accidents seem to happen on Sundays between midnight and 1 am, and on September 11th each year.
US Route 199
US Route 199 is an 80-mile road connecting Grant Pass, Oregon to Crescent City, California. Reportedly, it has an average of .58 deaths per mile, and the deadliest city is none other than Grants Pass. Records suggest that accidents are most likely to happen on July 5th and on Sundays from 2 pm to 3 pm.
Three of the major causes of fatalities in this area are pedestrians attempting to cross the road, trees, and overturned vehicles.
Interstate 20
I-20 is a 1,539-mile-long road that connects Scroggins Draw, Texas to Florence, South Carolina. While it has an average of .57 deaths per mile, accidents are most likely to happen within Dallas. From 2011 to 2015, I-20 has witnessed 876 deaths resulting from traffic incidents.
Most of these deaths were caused by overturned vehicles, cars being transported, and crossing pedestrians. If you are transporting a car, crossing the road, or driving on your own, make sure you are alert and taking all the proper precautions to observe road safety.
Interstate 85
The 666-mile-long road from Petersburg, Virginia to Montgomery, Alabama faces a current average of .57 deaths per mile. From 2011 to 2015, I-85 has been the location of 378 fatalities. According to Teletrac Navman, the danger times were on October 6th, and on Fridays from 3 pm to 4 pm.
I-85’s deadliest city is in San Diego, and the top three major accident causes were cars transporting other cars, crossing pedestrian, and trees.
Interstate 5
Stretching from Blaine, Washington to San Ysidro, California, the I-5 highway’s record indicates an average of .53 deaths per mile. San Diego, California remains its most dangerous city. The highway has been home to 733 fatal accidents from 2011 to 2015. Teletrac Navman’s data shows that most accidents seem to occur on August 28th or Saturdays from around 2 am to 3 am.
The top three major reasons for these accidents are vehicles being transported, cars overturning, and pedestrian crossing. So, if you are on this road, no matter what time of the day or month it is, take extra heed.
Interstate 35
From Duluth, Minnesota to Laredo, Texas, the I-35 highway stretches for about 1,569 miles. Between 2011 and 2015, it witnessed over 751 road fatalities. The highway has a recorded average of .48 deaths per mile. Accidents along I-35 are most likely to happen in Austin, Texas.
Records also suggest that most accidents happen on December 18th, and Sundays from around 2 am to 3 am. The top three major crashes are caused by vehicles being transported, crossing pedestrians, and overturned cars.
Interstate 65
I-65 is an 887-mile road that stretches from Gary, Indiana to Mobile, Alabama. The data shows that from 2011 to 2015, it has seen over 421 road fatalities, giving it an average of .48 deaths per mile. These accidents are said to happen frequently along the Louisville, Kentucky stretch of I-65.
According to Teletrac Navman’s data, most of these fatalities happened on August 1st, and on Sundays from around 4 am to 5 am. The fatal crashes were mostly caused by crossing pedestrians, vehicles being overturned, and cars being transported.
Interstate 59
The highway that connects Wildwood, Georgia to Slidell, Lousiana is recorded to have an average of .47 deaths per mile. Data reveals that the highway’s most dangerous area can be found in Birmingham, Alabama. I-59 stretches for 445 miles and 207 deaths occurred along this road between 2011 and 2015.
Accidents are most likely to occur on October 3rd and on Saturdays between 11 pm and midnight. The top three major causes of accidents are overturned vehicles, trees, and cars being transported.
US Route 17
Stretching for more than 1,206 miles, Route 17 has an average of .43 deaths per mile. It connects Winchester, Virginia to Punta Gorda, Florida. Accidents are most likely to occur in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. From 2011 to 2015, there have been 521 recorded deaths.
Records reveal that accidents occurring along this road happen more frequently on October 22nd and on Saturdays from 8 pm to 9 pm. Typical causes of accidents here are overturned vehicles, crossing pedestrians, and cars being transported.
Interstate 40
From 2011 to 2015, data reveals 1,102 accidents have occurred along I-40. The 2,559 mile-long highway connects Barstow, California to Wilmington, North Carolina. It has an average of .43 deaths per mile. Accidents are most likely to happen in the Memphis, Tennessee area.
According to Teletrac Navman, the top three major causes of fatalities here are crossing pedestrians, overturned vehicles, and cars being transported.
Interstate 84
Connecting Dunmore, Pennsylvania to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, I-84 is a highway that has a history of destruction. From 2011 to 2015, the 232 mile-long stretch witnessed over 98 deaths. Statistics show that Hartford, Connecticut is the most likely region to see an accident.
The time and date that accidents are most likely to occur, based on its history, are August 7th and Sundays from around 2 am to 3 am. The three major causes of accidents are overturned vehicles, crashing onto the guardrails, and cars being transported.
Interstate 15
I-15 connects Sweet Grass, Montana to San Diego, California via a 1,434-mile-long stretch of road. From 2011 to 2015, it has been the location for over 603 road fatalities. The most dangerous area for traffic accidents is San Diego.
A spike in fatal incidents seems to occur on July 2nd and on Sundays from around 3 am to 4 am. The top three major causes are crossing pedestrians, overturned vehicles, and cars being transported.
US Route 1
US Route 1 is one long road that spans the 2,369 miles between Fort Kent, Maine and Keywest, Florida. Sadly, it’s notorious for more than just its seemingly endless length. From 2011 to 2015, it has seen over 980 road fatalities, giving it an average of .41 deaths per mile. The most accident-prone city along Route 1 is Philadelphia.
The infographic released by Teletrac Navman claims that most accidents along this stretch seem to happen on May 12th and on Saturdays from around 10 pm to 11 pm. The top three major causes are crashing into trees, pedestrians attempting to cross the road, and vehicles being transported.
Interstate 44
I-44 connects Wichita Falls, Texas to St. Louis, Missouri. The infographic released by Teletrac Navman revealed that along I-44’s 634 mile-stretch, 258 road fatalities happened between 2011 to 2015. This gives I-44 an average of .41 deaths per mile. December 1st and Saturdays from 2 am to 3 am were the most dangerous times.
According to Telerac Navman’s data, three major causes of these fatalities were overturned vehicles, pedestrians crossing the road, and vehicles being transported.
