Accident Data: U.S. Roads More Dangerous than Ever
America’s roads are becoming increasingly dangerous, according to a recent analysis highlighted by CCJ Digital, a leading trucking publication. The findings were unveiled at the 2024 American Trucking Management Conference and Exhibition in Nashville.
Data analyzed from over 1.3 million commercial drivers reviewed more than 45 million collisions across the U.S. from July 2023 to July 2024. Their goal was to identify hazardous routes and understand the underlying causes of the accidents. One executive, in reviewing the data, declared “There is a safety epidemic.”
According to the stats, U.S. roadways have seen more than 40,000 traffic fatalities annually since 2021. While last year’s total of 40,990 marked a slight improvement, it is still 8,000 more deaths than a decade ago in 2011. On average, there are 84 collisions involving commercial vehicles for every 10,000 vehicles on the road—or roughly one crash for every 120 vehicles. Most accidents occur on weekdays between 4–6 p.m., with high traffic and low-speed environments, such as traffic jams and parking lots, being especially risky. At higher speeds, the most collisions happen at 60 mph.
The Most Dangerous Roads in America
Two of the nation’s most perilous roads are located in Florida: Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) and Highway 997 near Tamiami and Kendall West, which report collision rates between 69.3 and 76.2 crashes per 1,000 vehicles—double the national average. Following closely are Highway 285 and 123 near Pecos, Texas, with 32.17 collisions per 1,000 vehicles.
Metro Areas and High-Risk Intersections
The report analyzed six major metro areas: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Philadelphia. Los Angeles and Detroit had the highest monthly collision rates, at 11.4 and 6.5 crashes per 10,000 vehicles, respectively.
Most cities recorded their highest collision rates near major airports, with one exception: Detroit. Detroit’s intersection of I-75 and I-375 is the most dangerous, however, reporting 7.2 collisions per month—over four times the rate of the next-highest intersection, I-40 and I-24 in Nashville.
Holiday Hazards and Weather Risks
Roads become particularly treacherous during the holidays. Crashes involving commercial vehicles spike by 32% on Christmas Day compared to the rest of December. Speeding-related accidents increase by 10% in the week leading up to the holiday.
The holidays with the highest crash rates are:
- Christmas: 54.1 crashes per 10,000 vehicles
- New Year’s Day: 43.9 crashes per 10,000 vehicles
- Thanksgiving: 38.9 crashes per 10,000 vehicles
Winter weather likely contributes to these figures. Nearly two-thirds of crashes occur on wet or snowy roads, and almost half happen after dark.
If you have been injured in a road accident and suspect that it was due to negligence on the part of the other driver, a road flaw, or product malfunction in your vehicle, you might want to consider contacting a top Philadelphia trucking accident law firm to discuss your legal options. We are here to help you.