Beware Of These 5 Dangerous Highways In America

There isn’t a more romanticized version of contemporary American life than the image of gathering your belongings, climbing into a car, and hitting the road. Going on a road trip is one of the most enjoyable and iconic rites of passage there is, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Unfortunately, driving around the country can also be rather dangerous, especially given that there are a few highways notorious for how unsafe and gnarly they are to drive through. If you’re about to plan a road trip with friends crisscrossing the country soon, then make sure to read on for more information on the deadliest highways out there.

California’s I-5 

Los Angeles is notorious for its knotty freeways and expansive landscape that can take hours and hours to drive through. The I-5, in particular, is known for having a more frightening reputation: it is known as the site of the most violent car accidents in the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Society Administration, this highway counted the highest number of fatalities, and it has steadily increased, especially since 2017 and during the summer season – the reasons are not entirely clear. Regardless, it seems that teenagers, in particular, are at risk, perhaps because of reckless driving, drinking, or other forms of substance abuse. So, it might be helpful to skip this route if possible – unless you can’t entirely escape drunken revelers, or are dying to see the lay of the land on that particular road.

Dalton Highway Alaska 

Alaska is commonly referred to as “the last frontier,” or “the great alone,” mostly due to its incredibly pristine land – compared to the rest of the country – relatively uninhabited terrain. The gorgeous landscapes and unpolluted clear skies draw many tourists nowadays, but that is without a few caveats. Namely, Alaska’s Dalton Highway has earned quite the reputation for nightmarish collisions that have hurt many people. The drive along this highway is notably scary since it stretches four hundred miles total, two hundred and forty of which have no rest stop – which, let’s face it, is pretty miserable. Also, if you’re not completely spooked yet, the road contains tons of signs warning drivers of avalanches and other problems ahead that would sound cartoonish if they didn’t pose a real-life danger and consequences. 

I-45 Texas 

According to authorities, the I-45 is ranked the second deadliest highway in the United States, with more than fifty percent of accidents proving fatal. The critical part of the road is apparently the part en route to Houston from Dallas, which is responsible for many car crashes. The stats vary, but the experts over at 

https://www.kraftlaw.com/car-accidents/ say these remarkably high numbers could be due to simply sleepy drivers and hazardous road conditions. The latter is particularly damning, and if you do happen to take the risk by driving through this highway, it is highly recommended that you err on the side of caution and be prepared to call local law enforcement and your lawyer for help.

Million Dollar Highway in Colorado

This picaresque stretch of road is another beautiful terrain that many courageous travelers would love to traverse, but it is remarkably dangerous and definitely not for the faint of heart. It covers ten thousand feet of verdant mountainous ground, winding across steep cliffs and terrifying curves without the security of guardrails. If you are a fan of Stanley Kubrick’s The 

Shining, then you might remember the early scene of the family driving up along a foreboding, cloudy mountain – that’s definitely the vibe you get with this highway, and many deaths have also been reported throughout the years. 

Highway 1 in Florida 

If you look up pictures of this highway online, you can see immediately how striking it is. Bright white cement snaking across a wide expanse of greenish-blue sea; it’s a rather breathtaking sight. Of course, the seemingly serene beauty of its bucolic setting masks just how dangerous the highway is, which has often been ranked as the number one most dangerous road in the country, accounting for over a thousand deaths in only the past decade. So, while it might be tempting to take a dreamy drive down this sunny road, enjoying the salty ocean breeze, definitely err on the side of caution!

So, while it might be a wonderful thing to do and scratch off your bucket list – driving and exploring America – be careful, do your research, and always take the necessary precautions. You can definitely go out and have fun and take part in this well-trodden American past time of discovering the little known nooks and crannies of the country, but avoid road trouble when you can.