(The Center Square) – Arizona is home to some of the most traffic-prone intersections in the country. Personal injury attorney Sam Aguiar released a report analyzing data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 2004 to 2022 to reveal where the most fatal crashes occur in the Western United States.
Of the top 10 deadliest intersections in the Western United States, five are in Arizona, four in California, and one in Idaho. All five of Arizona’s dangerous intersections are in Maricopa County.
The most dangerous intersections are at Broadway Road and SR-85 (Oglesby Road). During the study period, six fatal accidents occurred at four-way intersections, resulting in seven deaths. This intersection is regulated by a stop sign.
The remaining four are:
The signal-controlled four-way intersection, located at 59th Street and Indian School Road, has been the site of five fatal crashes, resulting in the deaths of seven people. The stop sign-controlled four-way intersection at Hazen Road and SR-85 has had five fatal crashes and seven fatalities. Five fatal crashes occurred at Maricopa Road and the non-traffic-control T-junction SR-347 (North John Wayne Parkway), resulting in the deaths of six people. Finally, there were five accidents and five deaths at the Riggs Road and SR-347 signal-controlled four-way intersection.
Following the release of the report, U.S. Sen. David Farnsworth issued a statement regarding the need to improve road safety in Arizona.
“Too many of Arizona’s roads are filled with potholes, bumps, cracks, loose gravel, or other unstable surfaces,” Farnsworth said. “Some places lack proper lighting, others lack proper signage and traffic lights. These dangerous conditions make for dangerous commutes for motorists. Improvements must be made to create a safer environment for drivers navigating this high-risk intersection.”
Maricopa Mayor Nancy Smith said SR-347, which makes up two of the city’s most dangerous intersections, is in need of “urgent renovation.”
“This critical route is in urgent need of expansion and safety enhancements,” Smith said in a statement. “I am grateful for Sen. Farnsworth’s dedication to exploring innovative solutions to address this important issue.”
Farnsworth, who previously chaired the Senate Transportation and Technology Committee, is pushing for more funding to improve Arizona’s roads.
“The most important thing is that we don’t ignore our deteriorating transportation system, whether it’s adding traffic lights, adding lanes or improving roads,” Farnsworth said. “It remains critical that we take a thorough look at reform funding in the coming months to ensure we have the funding we need to improve our roads, highways, and highways. The lives and livelihoods of Arizonans remain critical. It depends on that.”
