Many people around the country think of California when they think of the scariest roads to drive on. This is due to the stereotype of fast cars and never-ending traffic. Of course, those of us who live here know that these are more than stereotypes. As you think about federal highways in the state, can you guess which are considered to be the scariest and which ones have the most car accidents?
Interstate 5
The section of Interstate 5 that runs through California is nearly 800 miles long and begins at the border with Mexico, and goes up to the Oregon border. There are various sections of the highway that are well known, such as the Golden State Freeway, Santa Ana Freeway, and San Diego Freeway. Interestingly, this is the only continuous Interstate highway that goes all the way from Mexico to Canada.
Parts of I-5, including those in Orange County, contain many lanes – as many as 22. In fact, there are always long-term projects on I-5, due in part to its length and because so many people drive on it. In an average year, there are about 8,000 injuries and around 80 deaths on I-5 in California.
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 runs through California for 243 miles, between Riverside County and Santa Monica. Some sections are the San Bernardino Freeway and the Santa Monica Freeway. I-10 is one of just three interstates that run from coast to coast, the others being I-80 and I-90. In 2016 there were more than 4,700 injuries and 41 fatalities on this stretch of highway. This is the second-highest rate of fatal car accidents and injuries per highway mile.
Interstate 15
For 287 miles, Interstate 15 runs from San Diego to the Inland Empire. In 2106 alone, there were nearly 30 lives lost on this stretch, along with 3,400 injuries.
Interstate 80
As mentioned above, I-80 is one of just three interstates that run from coast to coast. The California section is 199 miles and runs from Nevada to San Francisco. In 2016, there were 24 fatal accidents and more than 3,400 injuries on this stretch.
Interstate 405
The 405 runs through California for 72 miles between San Fernando and Irvine. In 2016, there were 22 fatal accidents and 3,700 injuries on this stretch of road. This makes it the deadliest highway in the state, per freeway mile.
Remember that if you are involved in a car accident in which you or someone else is injured, and someone else was at least partially at fault, you might have legal recourse to receive compensation for your damages. Contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 now to request a free legal consultation and determine what your options are.
