What are the 10 Most Dangerous Intersections in Phoenix in 2023?

10 Most Dangerous Intersections in Phoenix in 2023

In 2023, the ten most dangerous intersections in the Phoenix-Metro area were mostly in Phoenix proper. Using crash data collected between 2016 and 2020, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) ranked intersections by their overall Crash Risk, which factors in the frequency of crashes, the severity of the injury, and crash type. Here are the top ten most dangerous intersections:

• 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road, Phoenix – 353 crashes
• 75th Avenue and Indian School Road, Phoenix – 258 crashes
• 67th Avenue and McDowell Road, Phoenix – 245 crashes
• 67th Avenue and Indian School Road, Phoenix – 269 crashes
• 51st Avenue and McDowell Road, Phoenix – 209 crashes
• 75th Avenue and McDowell Road, Phoenix – 225 crashes
• 43rd Avenue and Bethany Home Road, Phoenix – 196 crashes
• 51st Avenue and Camelback Road, Glendale – 206 crashes
• Rural Road and University Drive, Tempe – 217 crashes
• 24th Street and Baseline Road, Phoenix – 205 crashes

Other intersections to be careful around, because of crash frequency, include:

• 99th Avenue and McDowell Road, Avondale – 209 crashes
• 27th Avenue and Camelback Road, Phoenix – 202 crashes
• 83rd Avenue and Bell Road, Glendale – 196 crashes
• 51st Avenue and Indian School Road, Phoenix – 196 crashes
• 43rd Avenue and Thomas Road, Phoenix – 195 crashes

Other intersections to be careful around, because of crash severity, include:

• 27th Avenue and Camelback Road, Phoenix
• 43rd Avenue and McDowell Road, Phoenix
• Southern Avenue and Stapley Drive, Mesa
• 43rd Avenue and Peoria Avenue, Phoenix
• 75th Avenue and Thomas Road, Phoenix

The most dangerous roads in Phoenix, AZ are 99th Avenue and 43rd Avenue, as well as McDowell Road and Camelback Road.

How can intersections with fewer crashes be more dangerous?

MAG ranked the intersections by creating a Weighted Intersection Safety Score (ISS) that consists of:

• 25% Crash Frequency Score (the ratio of the crash frequency at the intersection compared to the intersection with the most crashes)
• 50% Crash Severity Score (the ratio of the crash severity value for the intersection compared to the intersection with the maximum crash severity value)
• 25% Crash Type Score (the ratio between the crash type costs at the intersection compared to the intersection with the highest crash type costs)

As a result of this methodology, some intersections with fewer crashes were still considered to have a higher crash risk. Generally, the rankings can be interpreted to suggest that the intersections with the highest crash risk are the intersections with the most fatalities or catastrophic injuries. According to MAG, regional crash statistics show that 60% of traffic-related injuries and 40% of fatalities occur at the top 5 intersections. Therefore, you might want to be extra vigilant when approaching and going through these intersections.

Don’t be fooled. Scottsdale is dangerous too?

The details discussed above are based on 24/7 traffic statistics. If you narrow the data to rush hour traffic and expand to city-wide statistics, the data tells a different story. Scottsdale is ranked as the second most dangerous city in the U.S. for driving during rush hour. Scottsdale had 107 deadly crashes, from 2018 through 2022, out of which 32 occurred during rush hour. That means 30% of fatal crashes occurred during rush hour. The cause is not clear, but there are certain universal truths to driving in Arizona. Slow-moving vehicles and stop-and-go traffic tend to foster distractions and cell phone usage. Also, people are more likely to speed up to avoid stopping at a red light or getting stuck behind more traffic.

Arizona Crash Facts

In 2021, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) reported over 121,000 vehicle crashes in the state, which was a significant increase over 2020. Over 104,000 of those crashes occurred in urban areas like Phoenix-metro, with Phoenix seeing almost 41,000 crashes. Not surprisingly, 70% of all fatal crashes in Arizona occurred in urban areas, with Phoenix seeing around 25% of fatal crashes.

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Other Car Accident Resources

If you’ve been in an accident, you might want to check out our Free Personal Injury Settlement Calculator, learn why you might have memory problems after a car accident, or learn why you have muscle spasms after a crash.  Ultimately, you might want to consult with a Phoenix car accident lawyer to learn if you are entitled to compensation for your crash-related injuries.

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 23 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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