15 Most Dangerous Highways in America

Interstate highways — such as I-10, I-95 and I-40 — are generally some of the deadliest roads in the United States. Whenever you find yourself on one of the most dangerous highways in America, it’s crucial to follow safe driving habits that can lower your odds of getting into a car accident, such as staying within the speed limit and avoiding common driver distractions.

Below, you’ll learn about the most dangerous road in America and what characteristics make certain highways riskier than others.

On This Page

• 

  What Makes a Highway Dangerous?

• 

  The Most Dangerous Highways in America

• 

  What Should I Do if I’m in an Accident on a Dangerous Highway?

• 

  Tips for Driving on Dangerous Highways

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  FAQs

What Makes a Highway Dangerous?

Some of the biggest factors that can increase the level of danger associated with a given highway include the following:^[1][2][3]

• Traffic: You are more likely to get into an accident and need to file a car insurance claim amid dense traffic, since there is a higher risk of hitting another vehicle when there are more cars on the road. These accidents can lead to especially severe bodily injury or property damage when they occur at high speeds on highways.
• Poor signage: When signs or road markings are inaccurate or confusing, it makes it harder for drivers to follow the rules of the road — increasing the odds of a collision. Signage or marking issues that could lead to dangerous driver errors include fading traffic lines, missing exit signs and incorrect posted speed limits.
• Road characteristics: The physical characteristics of the road itself can also have a negative impact on driver safety. For example, you may be more likely to get into a serious collision on a highway with sharp twists and turns, steep drop-offs, missing guardrails, improper grading or potholes.
• Reckless drivers: You may also be at greater risk when other drivers on the highway engage in reckless driving habits. Examples of poor driver behavior include going significantly faster or slower than the speed limit, driving while drowsy, failing to use turn signals or mirrors, failing to yield to merging vehicles and tailgating.
• Adverse weather: Thousands of car crashes each year can be attributed to adverse weather conditions. Some of the most dangerous weather conditions for drivers include rain, snow, sleet, high winds, fog and blowing dust or smoke.

Is It Becoming More Dangerous To Drive?

A 2024 survey found that nearly half of respondents believed people in their area were driving more dangerously than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple data points back up the feeling many Americans are experiencing. For example, the national rate of both traffic fatalities and drunk driving incidents increased from 2019 to 2022, despite the fact that these rates had been trending downward for several years prior to the pandemic.^[4]

The Most Dangerous Highways in America

The following table goes over the top-15 interstates, federal highways and state highways with the highest number of fatal car accidents in 2023.^[5][6] Then, in the subsequent sections, you’ll see a more in-depth overview of the top-five deadliest highways.

I-10

With 321 fatal crashes in 2023, I-10 is the most dangerous highway in the U.S. by a large margin.^[6] This road stretches from California to Florida, making it one of only three coast-to-coast interstate highways, along with I-80 and I-90. Certain hazards may raise your crash risk at various points along I-10, such as increased traffic where it merges with I-5 in California or high winds and dust storms in New Mexico.^[7]

In addition, I-10 has a posted speed limit of 80 mph in certain remote parts of Texas due to low traffic volume.^[7] While the dearth of drivers on the road at these points may decrease the odds that an accident will happen, the higher speeds increase the odds that any accident that does occur will lead to serious injury, disfigurement or death.^[8]

I-95

I-95 ranks second among the most dangerous roads in the U.S., as there were 264 fatal accidents on this highway in 2023.^[6] Stretching from Maine to Florida, it passes through the most states of any interstate in the country. At its most congested, I-95 averaged nearly 340,000 vehicles per day at the Golden Glades Interchange in Florida in 2019 — with the heavy traffic greatly increasing the odds of a car accident occurring.^[9]

I-40

Another one of the most hazardous roads in the U.S. is I-40, which runs from California to North Carolina and experienced 227 fatal crashes in 2023.^[6] One of its most high-risk areas is in Tennessee, where it merges with I-75 to create 10 lanes of traffic. Also, I-40 passes through the Great Smoky Mountains on its way into North Carolina, which can be risky due to the winding roads, reduced visibility and uneven terrain associated with mountain highways.^[10][11]

I-75

In 2023, I-75 was the site of 211 fatal collisions — the fourth-highest number of any road in the United States.^[6] Large chunks of I-75 require six lanes to accommodate the high volume of traffic as the road traverses from Michigan to Florida, and more than a dozen other routes merge into I-75 or nearby highways, so drivers need to be especially alert to avoid getting into multicar pileups.^[12]

US-1

Rounding out the top-five deadliest highways in the United States is US-1. There were 174 fatal car accidents on US-1 in 2023, making it the most perilous non-interstate highway in the country.^[6] For the most part, US-1 runs parallel to I-95, meaning drivers should be wary of many of the same kinds of risks when driving on either highway.^[9]

What Should I Do if I’m in an Accident on a Dangerous Highway?

Take these steps after a car accident on a dangerous highway:

1. Check whether anyone involved is injured, and call 911 if necessary.
2. Ensure your vehicle is in a safe location and your hazard lights are on.
3. Exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver.
4. Document the accident scene by taking pictures and noting relevant details about the scene, such as the road and weather conditions.
5. Get in touch with your insurance company to report the accident and begin the process of filing an auto insurance claim.
6. Request roadside assistance if your vehicle needs to be towed.
7. Once your insurance claim is approved, use the payout to cover your car repairs, medical bills or other relevant expenses.
8. Determine whether you are required to report the accident to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

Tips for Driving on Dangerous Highways

Following tips like these can help improve your odds of staying safe while driving on a highway with a high accident rate:^[13]

1. Refrain from texting, eating or doing anything else that could distract you while driving.
2. Check the weather before you hit the road, and consider rescheduling your trip if there is supposed to be a storm.
3. Pay attention to other drivers on the road, and keep a safe distance from anyone who is driving recklessly.
4. Avoid driving too fast or too slow when merging onto the highway or an exit ramp.
5. Keep an eye on your speedometer to make sure you are adhering to the speed limit.
6. Take a break at a rest area if you start to feel drowsy.