Are you prepared to drive wherever the
open road may take you? From California to the New York island, from the
redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters, the roads that get us there are not
always safe.
You can’t always avoid the crowded
highways, twisted roads, and dangerous intersections in the United States, but you can be prepared. It pays to know how safe your fellow drivers
are on the road and which roads may require some extra precaution.
Save your time and money by familiarizing yourself with which roads, both close to home and yet to be explored, to look out for.
What makes a road dangerous?
Aside from fellow human error, there are many elements that contribute to the level of a road’s safety. Of course, any time you are behind the wheel, you should be attentive, but we tend to overlook the elements we expect to always be reliable.
A list of driving conditions to stay mindful of are:
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Heavy traffic
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Low population density
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Lighting
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Landscape
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Speed limit
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Insufficient infrastructure
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Road width
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Road conditions
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Poor signage
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Weather conditions
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Seasonal changes
● Wildlife
Besides the everyday inconveniences that cause frustration, we need to think about how these conditions should affect our driving. Good driving isn’t universal everywhere you go, and being able to adapt is a quintessential part of being a good and safe driver.
How Region Affects Driving Habits
When I first moved to Nevada from Wisconsin, I had friends who thought it was hilarious to shout “Deer” when I was driving on those poorly lit outskirt dirt Las Vegas roads. Though they couldn’t find a breath between laughs, I was busy trying to regain my heartbeat.
Landscape and wildlife may seem odd on this list to those of you from flatland or urban parts of the country. When you’re not used to looking out for hills or animals, thinking to do so may not be something you considered necessary. However, those like me from the northern or western parts of the country will tell you both have grave impacts on the way you drive.
Before going on road trips or even driving in
a new state, looking up road conditions and speed limits can help you avoid car accidents. Cities that
experience all four seasons and drastic weather changes tend to have more
physical road issues that make driving dangerous.
Weather can be the root cause for traffic jams, potholes, fallen signage, and non-working traffic signals. In addition to slowing down when you encounter turbulent weather conditions, checking the weather in advance can help you prepare for anything you may discover.
Dangerous Highways Across America
Highways are the most convenient ways to travel because they get us where we want to go faster. Whether you’re staying local or on a road trip, highways are the most familiar roads used on a daily basis across the United States.
A list of a few highways across the country
that are notably dangerous are:
● I-15 in Nevada: It is arguably the most
dangerous road in the country. This is where landscape matters because highway
hypnosis is what can cause people to think it’s safe enough to speed up or tune
out.
● Interstate 285 in Atlanta: Due to an influx of
state residents, that frankly, the city wasn’t ready for, Atlanta experiences
heavy traffic times. The city is currently creating new roads to control the
traffic better, but in the meantime, the construction only adds to the already dangerous
factors.
● Highway 17 in South Carolina: Midwesterners
aren’t the only ones worried about wildlife. This highway is beautiful because
of its natural landscape, but the beauty also makes road signs hard to see.
With greenery comes wildlife, so from distracted drivers to deer, you need to
be cautious.
● The Dalton Highway in Alaska: In addition to
harsh weather conditions for most of the year, there is also a low population
density. Due to the low population, there are no gas stations or stores for
over 200 miles on this road, making it extremely dangerous if you don’t prepare
for it.
● The Million Dollar Highway in Colorado: With
no guardrails to keep you from rolling down the vast mountains, it’s no wonder
travelers feel unsafe. Even with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour, the twists
and turns of the road make spotting signs and other vehicles extremely
difficult.
The Intersections to Watch out
for
On average, the government spends over $50 billion for highway and road maintenance and infrastructure a year. Even with the increasing budget and innovations to spot red-light camera violators, some streets are still disproportionately unsafe.
A list of states that have a history of not prioritizing roadway infrastructure and whose road quality rapidly declines because of weather conditions is:
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California
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Hawaii
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Rhode Island
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Massachusetts
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Michigan
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New Jersey
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New York
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Washington
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Wisconsin
Uncoincidentally, drivers registered in these states commonly pay higher rates for car insurance and other annual vehicle fees. It’s also not surprising that where there are faulty roads, there are the country’s most dangerous intersections. A small list of intersections with the most accidents and fatalities is:
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Birmingham, AL: University Boulevard and 28th
Street
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Denver, CO: MLK Jr. Boulevard and Quebec
Street
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Little Rock, AK: Asher Avenue and South
University Avenue
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Columbus, OH: Broad Street at James Road
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Bensalem, PA: Knights Road and Street Road
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Milwaukee, WI: Capitol Drive W and 35th Street
N
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Stone Mountain, GA: Memorial Drive and North
Hairston Road
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Glendale, AZ: 59th Avenue and Olive Avenue
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West Bloomfield, MI: Orchard Lake Road and 14
Mile Road
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Honolulu: 1450 block of Ala Moana Boulevard
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New Orleans, LA: Canal Street at Carondelet
Street and Bourbon Street
How Drivers Can Stay Safe
We cannot always control the landscape, traffic flow, or the quality of the roads we drive on, but we can practice adaptable safe-driving techniques. Don’t allow yourself to be a distracted driver that can have deadly consequences.
More time and funding has been going into researching what drivers pay attention to and how we can build roads to be more efficient, durable, and overall safer for everyone on the road.
If your state didn’t make any of the “infrastructure naughty” lists, you should familiarize yourself with what road dangers you may have become numb to. Refer to this resource and others alike when planning to travel to help keep you and everyone on the road safe.
