The Top 10 most dangerous roadways for commercial vehicles: How fleet managers can keep drivers safe.

Ensuring road safety is one of the most significant challenges for fleet managers and commercial drivers. With the rise in commercial vehicle traffic and increasing collision rates in specific areas, understanding high-risk zones is crucial for proactive safety management. 

Based on data from more than 1.3 million commercial drivers who use the Motive platform, certain highways and intersections across the United States pose a substantial risk to commercial drivers, primarily due to factors like heavy traffic, poor visibility, weather conditions, and aggressive driving.

Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 most dangerous roadways for commercial vehicles, and how to protect your drivers on these routes.

The most dangerous roadways in America

1. Highway 41 & Highway 997, Tamiami, FL – 76.2 collisions per 1,000 vehicles. Known for its challenging driving conditions and proximity to the Tamiami Trail – the stretch of road connecting Tampa to Miami – this highway sees one of the highest collision rates in the U.S. due to poor visibility and speeding.

2. Highway 41 & Highway 997, Kendall West, FL – 69.31 collisions per 1,000 vehicles Not far from the Tamiami Trail, this stretch in Kendall West also sees high collision rates due to similar conditions, made worse by heavy traffic congestion.

3. Highway 285 & Highway 302, Pecos, TX – 32.17 collisions per 1,000 vehicles This roadway in the Permian Basin is infamous for high collision rates that have earned it a not-so-friendly nickname: “Death Highway.” A magnet for oilfield traffic and hazardous weather, drivers who frequent these roads must be vigilant.

4. Highway 285, Carlsbad, NM – 31.49 collisions per 1,000 vehicles The treacherous conditions on this stretch continue from Texas into New Mexico, making it one of the most dangerous highways for commercial drivers.

5. Highway 880 & Highway 101, San Jose, CA – 29.64 collisions per 1,000 vehicles California’s busy intersections, especially those connecting major highways near San Jose, are prone to high collision rates due to congestion and speeding.

6. Highway 181 & Highway 123, Floresville, TX – 29.64 collisions per 1,000 vehicles This intersection in Texas is notorious for aggressive driving and collisions, making it imperative for drivers to be extra cautious and aware. 

7. Highway 84, Pendleton, OR – 26.82 collisions per 1,000 vehicles Known as “Deadman’s Pass,” this stretch is notorious for its dangerous driving conditions, especially in winter, when icy roads and low visibility lead to more crashes.

8. Highway 349, Midland, TX – 26.45 collisions per 1,000 vehicles Another Texas highway on the list, Midland’s Highway 349, has a high accident rate due to heavy oilfield traffic and frequent speeding.

9. Highway 110 & Highway 405, Long Beach, CA – 24.49 collisions per 1,000 vehicles Connecting major ports, this highway intersection is a hot spot for commercial vehicle collisions, especially with increased shipping and logistical movements in and out of Long Beach.

10. Highway 180 & Highway 168, Fresno, CA – 20.11 collisions per 1,000 vehicles Lastly, this intersection in Fresno sees high collision rates due to heavy agricultural traffic and challenging road conditions.

Key insights from city-specific data

When examining commercial vehicle collision rates across various U.S. cities, we found that proximity to airports and busy intersections significantly impacts collision rates. For example, Los Angeles, with 11.4 collisions per month, had the highest rate, followed by Detroit at 6.5. Interestingly, in all but one city observed, the areas near major airports consistently ranked as high-risk zones.

• Los Angeles: 4.6 monthly collisions near the airport
• Detroit: 7.2 collisions at the I-75/I-375 intersection

These high-risk areas emphasize the importance of defensive driving and the need for effective driver coaching.

5 tips for fleet and safety managers to keep drivers safe

Given the hazardous conditions on America’s roadways, especially in high-collision areas, fleet and safety managers must prioritize driver coaching to ensure the safety of their team and reduce accidents. Here are five essential tips to help drivers navigate these high-risk environments.

1. Emphasize defensive driving techniques. Defensive driving is crucial in high-risk zones like busy intersections and dangerous highways. Drivers should be taught to create space around their vehicles, maintain safe following distances, and stay alert to sudden changes in traffic flow. Since larger commercial vehicles require more stopping time, fleet managers should remind drivers to leave at least one second of distance for every 10 feet of vehicle length.

2. Use safety technology for real-time alerts. Incorporating video telematics and AI-powered dash cams into your safety program can significantly improve safety outcomes by providing real-time alerts on unsafe driving behaviors like close following, speeding, and unsafe lane changes. These alerts can act as a critical tool to prevent accidents, ensuring that drivers are continuously aware of their surroundings and perform safely on the road.

3. Coach drivers on avoiding aggressive drivers. Aggressive driving is a common cause of accidents, especially on highways and at busy intersections. Train drivers to stay calm and patient when dealing with aggressive drivers. Remind them to reflect on the situation, remain calm, and safely move away from the situation by creating space or pulling over if necessary.

4. Encourage the use of dash cams for documentation. Dash cams are invaluable for documenting unsafe actions by other drivers. Train your fleet to use dash cams as a defensive tool. Drivers can manually activate the dash cam to capture aggressive behavior from others on the road, which can serve as evidence against false claims.

5. Prioritize regular safety reviews and driver coaching. Continuous driver coaching is the key to maintaining safety on the road. Motive’s turnkey coaching tool automatically identifies drivers and behaviors that require attention. Regular safety reviews, coupled with real-time feedback from video telematics, will instill safe driving habits and reduce the likelihood of accidents. The Motive Safety Score makes it easy to see at a glance who’s improving or in need of coaching.

Conclusion

Navigating dangerous roadways is part of the daily challenge for commercial drivers. By identifying the most hazardous highways and intersections, fleet managers can better prepare their drivers for the risks they face on the road. Offering continuous coaching, reinforcing defensive driving techniques, and implementing advanced safety tools like AI dash cams, will go a long way in protecting your drivers and your business.

Motive’s safety platform can cut collision costs by 30%, Explore our full suite of safety products and see how we can help your program.