10 Most Dangerous Highways In The US You Don’t Want To Cross
America is a country with a modern and advanced transportation system because roads and planning are all excellent. However, the United States also has hazardous and deadly roads with the highest accident and death rates. We’re going to explore the 10 most dangerous highway in the US below:
10 Most Dangerous Highway In The US
1. Dalton Highway
The Dalton Highway is known as a nightmare and its difficult terrain with steep grades in Alaska because it stretches about 640 km through the Yukon River and many remote forests. This highway was built in 1974 to support the Trans-Alaska pipeline system. The Dalton Highway is primarily an industrial road servicing the oil fields of Alaska’s North Slope. What makes this road more dangerous is that for nearly 400 km there are no gas stations, restaurants, hotels, or other basic services. The trail also contains many warning signs about slopes and avalanches.
2. Million Dollar Highway
Million Dollar Highway also known as U.S. Route 550 in Colorado threads its way from Silverton to Ouray. The Million Dollar Highway is not for women or people who are not a professional driver because this route goes through the Red Mountain Pass mountain (3,358 m) and in particular, this route does not have a guardrail. Explaining the name Million Dollar of this road, many locals recalled that a female tourist joked, “You have to pay her a million dollars to drive back on this road”.
These factors make the U.S. Route 550 notorious for accidents, particularly around the Red Mountain Pass where the road reaches an elevation of over 11000ft. Drivers need to take caution during the winter months when it’s susceptible to avalanches adding an extra layer of danger to an already tricky highway.
3. Highway 2, Montana
Montana is known as one of the most dangerous states for drivers, mainly because of the long stretches of highway between towns. If you unfortunately have an accident on the road, you have to go to the nearest clinic yourself or it will take 80 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. This route is dangerous because drivers must maintain a speed limit of about 113 km/h through mountain roads. Washington State has invested in and upgraded a lot of this highway to help people drive safely.
>> Related post: 10 Dangerous Roads You Would Never Want to Drive On
4. U.S. ROUTE 6, Nevada
This route is designated as one of the deadliest highways in America. Route 6 crosses vast sparsely populated landscapes with long stretches between extreme temperatures and minimal civilization. It challenges travelers with its remote and desolate character demanding self-sufficiency and careful planning. Drivers must carry ample supplies including water and fuel and be prepared for limited cell phone reception.
5. Hana Highway
This highway connects the two cities of Kahului to Hana, located on the island of Maui, Hawaii, and has a length of 112 km. With only 103,6 km, Hana has nearly 620 turns and has to cross 59 bridges, of which 46 bridges have only one lane. Not only is Hana dangerous because of its dangerous terrain, but it also challenges drivers when landslides often occur. That’s why Hana is also on the list of the most dangerous roads in America.
6. I-95
I-95 travels up the U.S. East Coast from the tropical palm trees in downtown Miami to the icy forest of Houlton Maine at the Canadian border. I-95 carries more traffic than any other highway with a length of 3.096 km. With this length, I-95 is considered the longest north-south Intersection and the 6th longest highway overall in the US. I-95 clocked in at number one in both total fatalities and fatality rate with 284 fatalities and 14.88 per 100 miles in 2019. Much of the deadliness on i-95 can be attributed to icy conditions in the Northeast winters.
7. I-75
Interstate 75 (I-75) stretches for about 1786 miles, making it a major north-south highway in the Eastern United States. I-75 covers a large amount of territory from Miami to the Canadian border. This extensive road network is vital for travel and transportation, connecting multiple states and supporting local and long-distance traffic.
It seems exciting when driving on this road, however, you should know that I-75 had a total of 237 fatalities in 2019 and a fatality rate of 13.27 per 100 miles. The zebra attributed a large amount of those fatalities to icy winter conditions in Michigan.
8. I-45
With a length of 285 miles from Dallas to Galveston and passing through major cities like Houston, I45 is another deadliest highways in the US. After analysts discovered that every 160 km there were about 56.5 fatal accidents. The deadliest part of the route is in Houston, with 51 deaths from 2011 to 2015.
So is there something about the road itself like the design that makes it dangerous or resist the drivers who use I-45? The main reason that this highway has been named the most dangerous highway in the US is due to the high volume of vehicles during the rush hour which makes drivers have trouble navigating and maintaining a safe speed.
>> Read more: Life On The Road: 7 Stats About Driving A Semi-Truck
9. U.S ROUTE 17
U.S. Highway 17 in Florida is a north–south United States Numbered Highway that spans 317 miles (510 km) from the Punta Gorda, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area northeast to the Jacksonville metropolitan area. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, some SUV drivers lost control for unknown reasons. This highway in Florida has earned a reputation as one of the state’s deadliest due to a relatively elevated. Several accident factors such as speedy traffic, frequent congestion in urban areas, and variable weather conditions contributed to its risk.
10. I-285, Atlanta
Interstate 285 (I-285) is a Highway loop around Atlanta, Georgia, for 63.98 miles (102.97 km). It connects three interstate highways to Atlanta: I-20, I-75 and I-85. Although this highway is shorter than other highways, it is also on the list of “the most dangerous highway in the US”. In 2013, for every 16 km, there were 3.5 fatal accidents on this route. This makes Georgia the 7th state on the list of areas with the worst fatal accidents in the US. The road is dangerous because there are many curves, heavy traffic, and a lot of rickshaws on the highway.
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