It is never a good sign when a highway is labeled the “Highway to Hell.” This is the monicker that people have given to Highway 99 in California.
Experts determined that Highway 99 is the most dangerous in the United States, so it may deserve this unfortunate name. It received the name after it became the highway that had the most fatal car collisions in the country.
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Avoiding Accidents on California’s Most Dangerous Road
To avoid accidents on the most dangerous roads, you have to know why the road is dangerous. One of California’s most deadly, Route 99 has many unsafe conditions, including the following:
Distracted Drivers
Much of Route 99 travels through rural areas. When people drive through these locations, they feel as if they can relax and enjoy the ride. It seems safer as you are passing through miles of farmland. However, this can also be a recipe for disaster.
Because people are letting their guard down while they pass through less populated areas, they believe that they can engage in behaviors that you are advised not to do in heavier traffic.
That includes checking text messages, talking on the phone, changing stations on the radio, or eating and drinking.
According to the NHTSA, sending or reading a text causes your eyes to be away from the road for five seconds. That may not seem like a long time, but in that time, you will travel the length of a football field if you are driving at 55 miles per hour.
That’s plenty of time to cause a horrendous crash. Therefore, avoid this by keeping your phone in the glove compartment, purse or anywhere out of your reach.
Driving Above the Speed Limit
Traffic deaths due to speeding are increasing in this country and speeding contributes to a significant number of fatal accidents on Highway 99.
When a car comes up behind you and wants to pass, move over. Allow plenty of space between your vehicle and speeders.
This will protect you if the speeders lose control of their vehicles. If a speeder wants to engage you in a race or other dangerous behavior, call the police.
Driving While Drunk
Driving while drunk makes it a more dangerous driving environment no matter where you are in California.
In 2024, the state saw more than 1,300 serious accidents caused by drunk drivers. Highway 99 is no stranger to these types of accidents.
You may not be able to avoid an encounter with a drunk driver, but you can reduce the damage that will come with a collision. The first way to do this is to fasten your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.
Then, maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and other cars. You will notice erratic driving behavior by doing so, and when you see someone who may be drunk, remain far away.
Lastly, report the possible drunk driver to the police so that he or she can be removed from the situation.
The best way to avoid a collision with a drunk driver is to stay off Highway 99 in the evening and very early morning hours. This is especially true on the weekends when you are likely to find impaired drivers on the roads.
Another great tip is avoiding Highway 99 on major holidays. The probability that you will encounter drunk drivers on these nights is much higher than if you are driving in the middle of the day. New Year’s Eve and holidays during the summer are particularly dangerous.
Insufficient Lighting
Highway 99 has stretches where the lighting is insufficient. One study found that 40% of the car crashes that occurred on Highway 99 happened in the darkest areas.
Although you cannot do anything about the lighting conditions on Highway 99, you can make your trip on this highway as safe as possible.
For example, before you set out on the road, make sure that your headlights are clean. Also, adjust them so that you can see as much of the road as possible.
Ensure that the windshield is clean so that you can see through the entire thing. It must not produce a glare because this can distort your vision. You can also wear anti-glare glasses that will reduce the glare that comes from other headlights.
Inspect your vehicle to ensure that your brake lights and turn signals are working properly. If you can do so without blinding other drivers, use the fog lights or low beams.
This will increase your ability to see everything around you. Drive at a slower speed so that you have all the time that you need to react to potential dangers.
Another Dangerous Route: Interstate 10
I-10 begins in California, but it ends in Florida. Experts ranked this highway the fourth deadliest in the country, but this is because of the collisions that occur outside of the state. Even so, I-10 is known for its high traffic volume, and this leads to many fatal collisions.
I-10 is notorious for being a stop-and-go highway, and drivers may believe that, since traffic is practically at a standstill, it is safe to check emails or make phone calls. This cannot be farther from the truth.
Taking your eyes away from the road to read an email increases your chances of being in a collision.
You can avoid being caught in traffic by consulting the California traffic and road conditions before you begin your trip.
If you decide to get onto I-10 during a congested time, make sure that you are alert. The fact that traffic is slow does not mean that you can be less vigilant than you would ordinarily be.
Before you merge into congested traffic, you must be prepared to be patient. Being an impatient driver may cause you to drive more aggressively than you ordinarily would, and this increases the danger and will not help you arrive at your destination faster. Remember to relax and enjoy the time you have to yourself.
