The Circumstances Behind Dangerous Intersections
The 2023 Fang Law Firm Study
In 2023, The Fang Law Firm collaborated with 1Point21 Interactive on a study analyzing the role geography plays on the safety of an intersection. In short, researching the correlation between street design and crashes. In all, 20 years of crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Board (NHTSA) was used. In findings conclude, intersection crossings between main routes and local roads made up half of all fatal crashes in the US between 2000 and 2019; despite those types of intersections making up only 10% of the all intersections in the country.
Conversely, when the intersection are two local roads or two main routes fatalities are lower, while most intersections in the US account for the former at 73%. This lower fatal crash rate can be attributed to the lower speeds on local roads and more snug road design enforcing the lower speeds physically. Instead of unproductive, inefficient speed limit signs. Tree canopies over the street, and even street lamps can help with this type of physical limiter.
Furthermore, due to the higher speed limits and the wide open geography that rural areas have. Deadly intersections are disproportionately likely to be in rural locations. Accounting for 36% of fatal crashes in the 20 years; despite only 18% of the US population living in what’s really considered the country. Towns (pop. 2.5k-25k), small cities (pop. 25k-100k), and midsized cities (pop. 100k-250k) seemed to contain the least amount of deadly intersections with each holding under 10%. However, the large cities seemed to fair the worst; containing the greatest of amount of deadly intersections. Hovering just short of 60%.
Between 2000 and 2019, there were 159,394 fatal crashes designated as intersection-related. In other words, fatal accidents caused by the design of the intersection. According to the US Federal Highway Administration; there are 15,812,406 intersections in the continental United States. Of all the intersections in the US; less than one percent saw even one fatal crash; which equates about 147,000 between 2000-2019. Furthermore, only 1,828 had three or more fatal crashes; which equates out to less than .01 percent.
East Grand Street / US-1&9, Union County, NJ
The team that presided over the study considered any intersection with three or more fatal crashes in the study period to be classified as a dangerous intersection. The study worked out that the top 15 dangerous intersections in the US have seven or more fatal crashes logged within the 20 year period (2000-2019). The 2023 study found as follows;
7 Fatal Crashes
Deen Still Road E. / SR-33 (Commonwealth Ave. N.), Polk County, FL
FM-866 / SR-32, Ector County, TX
CR-74 / SR-31, Charlotte, FL
Pierce Ferry Road / US-93, Mohave County, AZ
Dug Hill Road / US State Route 2, Madison County, AL
SR-46 / SR-83, Saginaw County, MI
East Grand Street / US-1&9, Union County, NJ
SR-132 Street Road / SR-2019 Knights Road, Bucks County, PA
Grand Boulevard / Montgomery Street, St. Louis County, MO
SR-360 / US-287, Ellis, TX
SR-19 / SR-40, Marion County, FL
SR-70 / US-41 SR-15 14th Street West, Manatee County, FL
8 Fatal Crashes
Massachusetts Avenue / SR-70, Ocean County, NJ
East Jersey Street / US-1&9, Union County, NJ
9 Fatal Crashes
Lalor Street / SR-129, Mercer County, NJ
Data from the NHTSA used in the study explains that, in the US, a total of 1,828 intersections fit the study’s criteria of three or more deadly crashes and New Jersey has a few of them on this list of mostly deadly. Despite only 0.01% of all intersections in the US being the scene of at least one deadly crash during the 20 year study period, New Jersey makes short work of this list. The state contains not only the most deadly intersection in the country, but also accounts for the top three. However, among these crossing, there are also a disproportionate amount in Florida and, to a lesser extent, Texas. Let’s take a look at a few of these courtesy of Google Earth.
Lalor Street / SR-129, Mercer, NJ
New Jersey's Crossings (including 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 9th deadliest in the US)
Contained in the list of the most dangerous are two intersections that are only four blocks apart. This pair being; Spring Street (US Routes 1&9) / E. Jersey Street and Spring Street (US Routes 1&9) / East Grand Street; both in Elizabeth, NJ. It was found that both intersections are at a crossing of a local road and a major highway. Being classified in the most deadly of combos. Another example, Trenton’s intersection between NJ-129 & Lalor Street takes the cake of death claiming nine fatal crashes between 2000 and 2019. Not only a crossing between a main thoroughfare and a local road in a highly populated area. Why is this intersection that most dangerous in the US? Well there are few extra factors to consider at this light. To go east down Lalor Street, drivers have to cross a double tracked NJTransit rail crossing. These lines provide the local Waterfront and Trenton services every 15 mins each on average. Both services stopping at the Cass Street Light Rail Station just north of the intersection in question. As NJ-129 literally cozies up to the railroad. All these factors combined including; multiple entrances and exits to a nearby strip mall with an anchoring grocery store, as well as an apartment complex make this intersection busy with more variables and blind spots than your typical four way stop. Consequently, leading the nine deadly crash total.
East Jersey Street / US-1&9, Union County, NJ
Fortunately, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has implemented safety on these and more intersections throughout the state. Moreover, the Bureau of Safety Programs worked on improving pedestrian safety through enhancements to signal layouts and operations. Specifically in the problem areas of E. Jersey Street and E. Grand Street. For the former; pedestrian signals were added and minor signing and striping enhancements were installed. For the latter; pedestrian indications were added for all four crossings and near left clamp-mounted vehicular signals were installed. Unfortunately, these are minor improvements and fatal crashes have continued to happen in the area. Major physical improvements need to be in order to truly start to bring these tragic numbers down.
Florida’s Crossings (including 4th, 5th, 13th, and 15th deadliest in the US)
SR-19 / SR-40, Marion County, FL
While New Jersey is quite dense in population and, for the most part, developed its urban areas well before the implementation of car oriented urban design. Florida cannot say the same thing however. Booming in their urban development in post-WWII America as air conditioners, tourism, and highways made living in the state more accessible than ever. Yes, there were railroads and even a booming refrigerated train industry. A somewhat new creation for the time. As passenger rail services were phased out, however, larger roadways and intersections were needed. Making South Florida, specifically, known for having some of the widest and dangerous intersections in the US. A problem still felt today. As Brightline continues to have trouble with cars barreling into and onto the multi-lane, at-grade rail crossings that riddle the southern portion of the state especially. Even so, for this next example, we are going to Central Florida between Ocala and Daytona Beach. The intersection of SR-19 & SR-40 located near Astor, FL seems rather out there to make this list, but serves as an example of two major state routes intersecting in a remote, but deadly rural location. As with many rural roadways and intersections, the darkness at night can be a blindspot in itself. So, with the instillation of street lights illuminating far off intersections like this one had implemented post-study deaths can be reduced and prevented. Though as I said, most of the danger in Florida’s deadly intersections lie in just how wide and stroad-y the streets there can be. The crossing at US-41 / FL-70 in Bayshore Gardens is an example of this.
According to The Fang Law Firm study, “Out of all metropolitan cities, Miami stands out with the most intersections that our study classified as deadly, followed by Phoenix, AZ and NYC.” The study revealed that between 2000 and 2019, 138 intersections in Miami were the site of three or more crashes. Findings also told a similar story throughout the rest of the state. Including notable deadly intersections in Bradenton (14th St. W. / 53rd St. W.), Punta Gorda (SR-31 / Bermont Rd.), and Lakeland (Commonwealth Ave. N. / Deen Still Rd. W.) all finding their way into the top 15 deadliest in the US.
Other Crossings of Interest
SR-360 / US-287, Ellis County, TX
Of course, there are a few other states with intersections in the top 10 each with seven fatal crashes; including the aforementioned Texas. Specifically, just south of Dallas in Ellis County were the main thoroughfares of TX-360 & US-287 cross paths. In this designation, US-287 serves as the larger minimum access highway and both with high speed limits.
Grand Boulevard / Montgomery Street, St. Louis, MO
While over in St. Louis, MO; there’s the curious case of the urban intersection Grand Blvd. & Montgomery St. with Grand serving as the main route through the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood. I can only assume the large amount of fatalities comes from the shear witness of Grand Boulevard, with contributions from the 3-way, one stop sign layout of this intersection.
SR-132 / Knights Road, Bucks County, PA
Just Northwest of I-95 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania is the monstrosity that is the intersection of PA-132 & Knights Road. This crossing contains 3 slip turn lanes, 3 pedestrian pork chop islands, and skip striping that could make Picasso blush. A true work of art from the top down and all boxes checked to make sure walking across this thing is as absolutely unsafe as possible. Minus finishing this thing off and putting a forth and final slip lane in; this intersection has it all. Not only including a Subway and a Frank’s Car Wash on two of the corners. One corner has a house set back unnervingly close to one of the slip lanes. I mean it looks like the bedroom is set back only 6ft or so from oncoming traffic. Not to mention, of course, no sidewalks. I mean this house is one drunk driver away from a bad time and maybe even demolition.
Questionable House Set-Back
SR-46 / SR-83, Saginaw County, MI
Finally back out to the countryside. This time just east of Saginaw, Michigan down E. Holland Road at the intersection of M-46 & M-83. Specifically located in Reese, MI; this crossing is the classic Michigan 4-way cluster fuck stop with the added state spice of turn lanes as you approach in each direction. To be completely honest, in my opinion, the only part about these that is redeemable is the cute little ‘STOP’ cube they place above the intersection that you can’t see till you’re literally driving through the crossing. I don’t actually know if this is a Michigan only type of intersection, but I’ve only ever seen them in the state of Michigan. So, correct me if I’m wrong. The concept really makes no sense to me and it’s no wonder so many as seven deadly crashes have occurred here between 2000 and 2019. Furthermore, I’ve found an alarming amount of these intersections have no street lights or flashing stop signs, and the only signaling you have at night are the two tiny flashing yellows hanging overhead. It’s not white-knuckling it bad, but it’s definitely needlessly unsafe. Especially for a rural road where speed limits are naturally higher and drivers naturally speed on the straight-aways out here. Put a light in if there’s that much traffic and take out the ridiculous right-turn only lanes AT LEAST.
The Michigan ‘STOP’ Cube
Take Aways
We talk about cyclists, pedestrians, and transit on the Dav_Train Journal a fair amount. So, I hope by taking a look at the correlation between how an intersection is built and the safety at which it is operated by drivers. We found the circumstances; which create the lessons and solutions we can take into the future. Thus, improving the design of our roadways. If you wanna check out the full 2023 Fang Law Firm Study; it’ll be cited down below. Thank you!
