California highways contain long stretches of gorgeous views, ranging from mountains to beaches. California is home to beautiful landscapes, but it is also home to some of the most dangerous highways in the United States. California had 3,606 fatal collisions in 2019, making California the state with the second-highest number of traffic deaths that year. Traveling on California highways can be beautiful, but there are potential dangers.
5 of the Most Dangerous Highways in California
The California State Highway System is a network of 16,663 miles, consisting of over 50,000 lane miles. Within those networks, some highways are more dangerous than others. Below is a list of some of the most dangerous highways in California:
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 runs 797 miles between San Ysidro’s international border crossing to the Oregon border in the Cascades. The major sections of this route are the Golden State Freeway, the John J. Montgomery Freeway, the Santa Ana Freeway, and the San Diego Freeway. The I-5 from California to Washinton state is known for being the only continuous interstate route that connects the borders of Mexico and Canada. This long-stretching highway is considered the fourth most dangerous highway in the United States. A total of 768 fatalities occurred from 2010 to 2016, translating to approximately 1.2 accidents for every mile of the highway.
State Highway 99
State Highway 99 is composed of 424 miles that pass through Central Valley. This Golden State highway connects rural communities in the north to several densely populated eastern areas. In 2018, the portion of the highway passing through Fresno took first place for the country’s deadliest 100-mile stretch of highway. Over seven years, there were a total of 411 fatalities from 461 accidents.
Interstate 405
Interstate 405 is a major north-south interstate highway in Southern California. The route is known as the northern segment of the San Diego Freeway. The I-405 bypasses the I-5 route, running along the southern and western part of the Greater Los Angeles area. The I-405 has one of the highest rates of fatalities and injuries per freeway mile in California. In 2016, there were 22 fatalities and over 3,700 injuries as a result of collisions.
U.S. Highway 101
The California section of U.S. 101 runs 808 miles through Los Angeles and the Oregon border at Grants Pass. This highway segment shares an intersection with I-5 and is known as the Bayshore Freeway, the Central Freeway, the Hollywood Freeway, the Ventura Freeway, and the Santa Ana Freeway. In 2019, this highway had 634 fatalities, making it the second most dangerous road in California. U.S. 101 is the 16th most dangerous highway in the United States.
State Route 138
California 138 is a major east-west highway that links I-5 near Gorman, I-15 near Mormon Rocks, and California 18 near Crestline. State Route 138 also overlaps with the Antelope Valley Freeway through Lancaster and Palmdale, linking Angeles Crest Highway near Wrightwood. The stretch of road that runs from the Mojave Desert to the San Gabriel Mountains is known as “Death Trap Highway” for its infamous mountainous terrain, sharp turns, and sheer drop-offs that result in fatal accidents.
Contact the California Car Accident Attorneys at Setareh Law Today
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