Interstate 95 (I-95) has been ranked the most dangerous highway in the United States, according to a recent study by iSharing, which analysed fatality data from 2019 and 2020, traffic volumes, and fatality rates per 100 miles.
The report, based on data from national highway safety records, assessed the top 10 deadliest US roads by compiling a “risk score” that factored in the total number of deaths, traffic density, and roadway length.
I-95 topped the list with a risk score of 97.69, registering 379 fatalities in 2020 alone. The highway, which serves as the main artery along the US east coast, carries nearly 300,000 vehicles daily. Analysts attribute its high risk to a combination of heavy congestion, high-speed zones, and frequent collisions.
Interstate 75 (I-75) followed in second place with a risk score of 90.86. Despite a lower daily volume of 133,000 vehicles, I-75 saw 246 deaths in 2020, driven largely by congestion in urban areas along its route.
Interstate 5 (I-5) ranked third with a risk score of 88.45. The major west coast highway saw 193 fatalities in 2020 and a high fatality rate of 13.47 per 100 miles, underscoring persistent safety concerns.
Other highways in the top five included I-35 (risk score: 86.34) and I-20 (risk score: 84.75), both of which recorded over 200 fatalities and fatality rates above 12 per 100 miles.
Interstate 40 (I-40), I-15, I-80, I-70, and US Highway 41 (US-41) rounded out the top ten. While their fatality rates were somewhat lower, each road still showed significant risk levels due to either high daily traffic or accident density.
The study highlights the continuing dangers on US highways despite advancements in road safety technologies. “Normalised comparisons across fatality rates and traffic volumes provide a clearer picture of where the risks lie,” iSharing noted in its findings.
Transportation experts have urged authorities to prioritise infrastructure upgrades, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and increased driver awareness campaigns, particularly on highways flagged in the report.
