The Most Dangerous Highways in the U.S.

About 40,000 individuals lose their lives every year on United States roads. It is a shocking number, and while most imagine such deaths as taking place in high-speed crashes or urban chaos, the reality is more nuanced. The landscape of road death reflects a mix of population density, infrastructure, transportation patterns, and systemic risk factors.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Texas, California, and Florida consistently experience the highest number of traffic deaths annually—over 4,000, 3,500, and 3,000, respectively. Georgia and North Carolina consistently finish just behind. All of these states share some commonalities: they are large, populous, car-dependent, and crisscrossed by major highways and large suburban road networks. At the other end of the spectrum, smaller and less car-dependent states like Vermont, Rhode Island, and Hawaii tend to see fewer than 100 highway fatalities in an average year. The D.C. area, known for its compact layout and dependence on public transit, generally has the lowest fatality count in the country.

Earlier, I created a heat map of U.S. traffic fatalities showing where deaths are most concentrated. It illustrates how geography and infrastructure affect risk. Most fatalities are caused by speeding, drunk or distracted driving, and not wearing a seat belt. These acts are more likely to be lethal on rural roads, where crashes happen at higher speeds and it takes longer for emergency responders to arrive. Long, poorly lit stretches of highway with minimal separation between lanes can also heighten risk.

And while these dangers arise on all manner of roads—from suburban boulevards to rural routes—there’s particular emphasis on highways. Highways are not the foremost source of fatalities overall, but they play an disproportionate role when it comes to serious crashes due to the high volume and speed of traffic. These roads connect regions, carry economies, and determine the rhythm of modern American life. But some stretches have gained notorious reputations—not only because of volume of traffic, but because of consistently high fatal crash rates.

One source that helps to plot out these deadly corridors is a study by Geotab, which analyzed a decade of traffic fatality data to identify the most dangerous highways in the country. Their interactive map reveals some sobering trends.

Some highways are infamous for their deadly track records. For example, U.S. Florida’s Route 1 is the worst with more than 1,000 fatal crashes, earning the label as America’s most dangerous highway. The road snakes along the eastern coast, mixing local traffic with long-distance travelers and tourism-generated congestion. I-40 in Tennessee, marked by mountainous terrain and ample freight traffic, also sees a high number of fatalities. And then there’s U.S. Texas’s Highway 83, a barren, long stretch where speeding and driver fatigue claim lives with grim regularity. I-95, a congested Northeastern artery, is plagued by heavy traffic, sudden merges, and crumbling infrastructure—some of the reasons it’s gained notoriety.

Is the Situation Getting Better?

While these roads tell dramatic stories, the broader truth is this: road safety in the United States is slowly improving. After a disturbing increase during the pandemic’s early years—when lighter traffic engendered more dangerous driving—the death toll has started to decline. The first half of 2023, for instance, was 3.3% lower than the same time in 2022, with 19,515 fatalities occurring nationwide, according to AP News. This marks the fifth successive quarter of declining fatalities, a sign that policy initiatives in the public consciousness, improved car technology, and smarter infrastructure could be taking effect.