Ten Deadliest Interstates in America

[Grzrd]

I-285 in metro Atlanta (on which I drive several times a week) is Number 1:

https://www.vox.com/a/deadliest-interstates-united-states

[hotdogPi]

From the article:

Interstate 240, with sections in Tennessee, Oklahoma, and North Carolina...

I-295, with sections in ME, MA, RI, NY, NJ, DE, MD, DC, VA, NC, and FL...

[Duke87]

From the article:

Interstate 240, with sections in Tennessee, Oklahoma, and North Carolina...

I-295, with sections in ME, MA, RI, NY, NJ, DE, MD, DC, VA, NC, and FL...

On a similar note, how did I-295 have a fatal accident in Miami?

[jeffe]

The second roadway on that list is I-710 in Los Angeles.  This freeway has a high volume to truck traffic and outdated interchanges.  To improve safety there is a project being proposed to rebuild many of the interchanges and add additional lanes. 

Depending on the alternative, either truck bypass lanes will be added, or a parallel truck corridor will be built.

Project website:
https://www.metro.net/projects/i-710-corridor-project

The tenth Interstate on the list is I-210 in California.  Likewise, there are several project in the works or planned for I-210:
https://www.metro.net/projects/i-710-corridor-project

Does anyone know of projects or safety improvements planned for other Interstates on that list?  Or what can be done in general to reduce the accident rate on Interstates?

[oscar]

Does anyone know of projects or safety improvements planned for other Interstates on that list?  Or what can be done in general to reduce the accident rate on Interstates?

That assumes that the Interstates on that list are unusually unsafe. ISTM that those Interstates might have many accidents per-mile only because those miles have unusually high traffic volumes, especially compared to Interstates including long rural segments. The article's author (not unreasonably) did not adjust for population, but made no adjustment at all for traffic volumes.

When you adjust for traffic volumes, you might find that lower-volume Interstate segments are the ones where safety improvements might be most cost-effective, saving more lives at less cost.

It doesn't help the article's credibility that Vox says the author is a "graphics reporter", rather than someone with transportation expertise.

[Tom958]

Does anyone know of projects or safety improvements planned for other Interstates on that list?  Or what can be done in general to reduce the accident rate on Interstates?

There's this $1 billion mostly-safety project for the I-285-GA 400 interchange area. I think it's supposed to be let pretty soon. The Vox graphic shows another high accident area at the I-20 west interchange, but the money for a fix there hasn't materialized.

[SP Cook]

10 urban interstates.  With vastly lower 85%ile speeds than the majority. 

Yet we still have a revenue war going on motorists driving safe and fast on rural roads designed for such.

[bing101]

I-710 Los Angeles is mentioned too.

[RoadWarrior56]

As a resident of Metro Atlanta, I am beaming with civic pride that I-285 is number 1 on the list!!!

[roadman]

From the article:

Interstate 240, with sections in Tennessee, Oklahoma, and North Carolina...

I-295, with sections in ME, MA, RI, NY, NJ, DE, MD, DC, VA, NC, and FL...

On the MA section of I-295, the ramp from I-95 south to I-295 south (which is currently being widened and re-aligned) has the highest incidence of truck rollovers in the entire state of Massachusetts.  The loop ramp from I-295 north to I-95 north (which should be replaced with a direct flyover but won't be in the foreseeable future) has the second highest incidence of truck rollovers in the state.

[formulanone]

From the article:

Interstate 240, with sections in Tennessee, Oklahoma, and North Carolina...

I-295, with sections in ME, MA, RI, NY, NJ, DE, MD, DC, VA, NC, and FL...

On a similar note, how did I-295 have a fatal accident in Miami?

He was driving really fast.

[shadyjay]

Really surprised I-95 in CT didn't make the list!

[US 41]

I'm a little surprised that I-70 between Terre Haute and Indianapolis didn't make the list. It seemed like for a while that someone was getting killed out there once a week. There was even an article in the local paper about how dangerous I-70 was becoming.

[sandwalk]

Do people in the South not know how to drive? LOL

[AlexandriaVA]

Do people in the South not know how to drive? LOL

I've heard anecdotal evidence that safety standards for cars are less stringent (or non-existent). Plus factor in the lower income/education levels of the South and it probably makes sense.

[Henry]

I-4 is the only 2di (or really, 1di) to make the list, but I guess that should come as no surprise since it goes through the two largest population centers of Central FL (Orlando-Kissimmee and Tampa Bay).

[jwolfer]

Do people in the South not know how to drive? LOL

I've heard anecdotal evidence that safety standards for cars are less stringent (or non-existent). Plus factor in the lower income/education levels of the South and it probably makes sense.

We don't know nothin' about no drivin'

[jwolfer]

I-4 is the only 2di (or really, 1di) to make the list, but I guess that should come as no surprise since it goes through the two largest population centers of Central FL (Orlando-Kissimmee and Tampa Bay).

Also the number of tourists in the region. People on vacation are  unfamiliar with roads and distracted.

Another factor is I-4 was designed and built originally when Orlando was a regional city known for citrus and cattle. Had the interstate system been 20 years later, I think I-95 would have paralleled US17 closer than US1 between Jacksonville and Orlando

[MrDisco99]

I-4 is the only 2di (or really, 1di) to make the list, but I guess that should come as no surprise since it goes through the two largest population centers of Central FL (Orlando-Kissimmee and Tampa Bay).

Also the number of tourists in the region. People on vacation are  unfamiliar with roads and distracted.

Another factor is I-4 was designed and built originally when Orlando was a regional city known for citrus and cattle. Had the interstate system been 20 years later, I think I-95 would have paralleled US17 closer than US1 between Jacksonville and Orlando

Thank goodness it didn't.

[hbelkins]

I've heard anecdotal evidence that safety standards for cars are less stringent (or non-existent).

Uhh, aren't they the same nationwide?

[Brandon]

I've heard anecdotal evidence that safety standards for cars are less stringent (or non-existent).

Uhh, aren't they the same nationwide?

That's what I thought as well.  All vehicles sold must adhere to the same minimum safety standards to be sold within the US.

If he's talking about inspections, then there's a bunch of northern states that do not do inspections either.  Illinois is one of them.

[jeffandnicole]

On the whole, Delaware ranks pretty low for fatal accidents, at 45th. In 2013, the state only saw 94 fatal accidents. However, the I-495 only clocks in at a little under 15 miles, making it one of Delaware's most trafficked – and deadliest – roads.

"The I-495"

94 fatal accidents per the story.  495 had...4 of them.

I'm a little surprised that I-70 between Terre Haute and Indianapolis didn't make the list...

Because the author's criteria was the number of fatals on the entire highway within the state, not random portions of the highway.  If that stretch of I-70 has more than an average number of fatals, but I-70 east of Indy had fewer than average, then the overall average was low enough not to make the list.

[PHLBOS]

I've heard anecdotal evidence that safety standards for cars are less stringent (or non-existent).

Uhh, aren't they the same nationwide?

That's what I thought as well.  All vehicles sold must adhere to the same minimum safety standards to be sold within the US.

If he's talking about inspections, then there's a bunch of northern states that do not do inspections either.  Illinois is one of them.

Though not a northern state, I believe that Delaware's another state that doesn't do annual auto inspections.

[signalman]

Though not a northern state, I believe that Delaware's another state that doesn't do annual auto inspections.

Delaware inspects both safety and emissions.  One must pass said inspection before being allowed to renew the registration.

[jeffandnicole]

Though not a northern state, I believe that Delaware's another state that doesn't do annual auto inspections.

Delaware inspects both safety and emissions.  One must pass said inspection before being allowed to renew the registration.

Delaware is either 4 or 5 years for new cars, then every 2 years.