The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Office of Traffic and Safety keeps a list of the most dangerous intersections in the state known as the Safety Improvement Candidate Locations (SICL). To determine which intersections should be included on this list, the state looks at a number of different statistics, including total number of car crashes, severity, injuries, and fatalities. Crashes within 75 feet of city intersections and 150 feet of rural intersections are included in this data.
Which intersections are the most dangerous in the state? Here are 5 of the most dangerous intersections as identified by the Office of Traffic Safety:
Intersection of U.S. 6/W. Kimberly Rd./Marquette St.
Located in the city of Davenport in Scott County, this intersection ranks high on the list based on data from 2009-2013. There were 45 reported incidents involving 96 different vehicles at this intersection during this time period. Many of the crashes at this intersection were severe enough to cause injuries, and there were also two fatalities at this intersection that were caused by car crashes. Even more astonishing is the amount of property damage that resulted from the car crashes. Between 2009 and 2013, crashes led to over $260,000 in estimated property damage at the intersection of U.S. 6, Kimberly Road and Marquette Street.
According to the data, the most dangerous time of day to drive through this intersection is between the hours of noon and 6 p.m. Surprisingly, there were rarely any crashes reported here during the middle of night.
Intersection of U.S. 61/Harrison St./W. Locust St.
This intersection is also located in Davenport within Scott County. There were 63 crashes involving 129 cars at this intersection between 2009 and 2013, 30 of which involved injuries. Drivers who were involved in crashes at this intersection incurred an estimated $255,000 in property damage as a result of the collisions.
The afternoon and early evening hours were some of the most dangerous for this intersection, just as they were for the first intersection mentioned on this list. However, there were also a great deal of crashes at this intersection in the early morning hours between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Most crashes at this intersection were caused by drivers who were tailgating other vehicles and failed to brake in time to avoid a collision. As a result, most of the crashes that occurred here were rear-end collisions. A significant amount of crashes were also caused by drivers who ran a traffic signal and collided with another vehicle.
Intersection of IA 27/Iowa 58/Viking Rd.
Located in Cedar Falls within Black Hawk County, this intersection had 66 crashes between 2009 and 2013. There were 142 vehicles involved in these crashes, meaning many collisions involved more than two vehicles. Two fatalities have been reported at this intersection, but many others were injured as a result of crashes here. It is estimated that the drivers who were involved in these crashes suffered over $450,000 in property damage. Based on the amount of property damage, it is surprising that there were not more fatalities and serious injuries reported at this intersection.
When is this intersection the most dangerous? Crashes occurred at all hours, but the most dangerous hours were between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. About one-third of the crashes at this intersection occurred when a driver failed to yield to the right of way when making a left turn. Thirty of the crashes involved one vehicle hitting another at an angle, and 20 of them were rear-end collisions.
Intersection of U.S. 69/SE 14TH St/E. Indianola Ave.
This intersection is located in the capital city of Des Moines. There were 74 crashes at this intersection between 2009 and 2013, and although none of them were fatal, there were dozens of reported injuries. The vast majority of these crashes were rear-end collisions caused by drivers tailgating other vehicles and failing to stop in time to avoid contact. A significant amount of crashes were also caused by drivers who ran a traffic signal at this intersection.
Crashes were reported at various times throughout the day, however the most dangerous hours were 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., which could be due to the increase in traffic caused by rush hour. Although most of the crashes were passenger vehicles, there were two crashes that involved motorcycles and one that involved a tractor/semi-trailer.
Intersection of I-235/School St./MLK Jr. Pkwy
This intersection is also located in Des Moines. Over the four years that the state collected data, there were 60 crashes reported at this intersection, many of which involved property damage and injuries. Luckily, none of the crashes reported at this intersection were fatal.
Nearly two-thirds of the crashes at this intersection were caused by drivers who ran through a traffic signal. Many crashes occurred when the weather conditions were cloudy, so it’s possible the drivers were unable to see the traffic signals. The crashes were fairly evenly spread throughout the day, with most occurring between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Two crashes involved buses, and one involved a tractor/semi-trailer, but the majority of the crashes involved passenger vehicles only.
Only one of the crashes at this intersection involved a driver who tested positive for drugs, however one other at-fault driver did refuse to take a chemical test, so it’s possible he could have been under the influence as well.
Crashes can happen anywhere—even at intersections that are not included on this list. If you have been injured in a traffic crash and want to learn more about your legal options, contact Trial Lawyers for Justice today to schedule a consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, but you will need the help of an experienced attorney.