Intersections can be extremely dangerous areas on our nation’s roadways. This is especially true in the South. From 2004 through 2022, more than 73,000 people were killed in intersection-related crashes in the Southern United States.
While there are a number of factors that can make intersections dangerous, where are motorists killed most often?
The Louisville personal injury attorneys at Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers examined fatal crash records from 2004 through 2022 (the latest full year available) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to find out.
We identified 12 intersections in the South where at least 5 fatal crashes occurred during the observation period.
Key Findings
- Nearly 44 percent of U.S. intersection-related crashes occur in the Southern United States.
- Fatal intersection crashes are much more likely to occur in rural areas in the South, accounting for 47 percent of such crashes. This represents the highest percentage of the four major regions in the U.S.
- The deadliest intersection in the South is US-98 and SR-63 in George County, Mississippi.
- Three states had more than one intersection in the top 12 – Florida (4), Texas (3), and Mississippi (2).
A Growing Safety Issue in the Southern United States
During the observation period, intersection-related fatal crashes increased by 20 percent in the Southern region – even as total crashes declined slightly. This was the second-highest regional increase behind the Western United States.
There could be several reasons for this increase such as inadequate traffic control signs or signals, a corresponding rise in distracted driving, or impacted or limited visibility at or around the intersection.
The 12 Deadliest Intersections in the South
No intersection in the Southern United States had more fatal crashes and more fatalities than the intersection of US-98 & Old Hwy 63 in George County, Mississippi. During the observation period, 10 people were killed in 8 crashes.
This intersection is one of 9 among the deadliest that can be found at the junction of a US highway and a State Route. Only three involved different road types: FM (farm to market) roads in Texas and CR (country route or road).
Below, we provide an overhead view of this crossing along with the rest of the 12 deadly intersections.
US-98 & SR-63
George County, Mississippi
- 8 fatal crashes
- 10 deaths
- Traffic Control Device: Stop Sign
- Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
FM 181 & SR-115 (Kermit Hwy)
Andrews County, Texas
- 7 fatal crashes
- 9 deaths
- Traffic Control Device: Stop Sign
- Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
SR-11 & CR-304
Flagler County, Florida
- 7 fatal crashes
- 8 deaths
- Traffic Control Device: Stop Sign
- Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
US-287 & SR-360
Ellis County, Texas
- 7 fatal crashes
- 7 deaths
- Traffic Control Device: Stop Sign
- Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
SR-302 & FM 866
Ector County, Texas
- 6 fatal crashes
- 7 deaths
- Traffic Control Device: Stop Sign
- Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
US-29 & SR-97
Escambia County, Florida
- 6 fatal crashes
- 6 deaths
- Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
- Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
US-72 & SR-7
Benton County, Mississippi
- 6 fatal crashes
- 6 deaths
- Traffic Control Device: Roundabout
- Intersection Type: Roundabout (Roundabout opened in 2024)
US-25 (White Horse Rd) & SR-183 (Farrs Bridge Rd)
Greenville County, South Carolina
- 6 fatal crashes
- 6 deaths
- Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
- Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
US-301 & CR-218
Clay County, Florida
- 5 fatal crashes
- 6 deaths
- Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
- Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
US-70 & SR-98
McCurtain County, Oklahoma
- 5 fatal crashes
- 6 deaths
- Traffic Control Device: Stop Sign
- Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
US-331 & SR-20
Walton County, Florida
- 5 fatal crashes
- 5 deaths
- Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
- Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
US-60 & SR-1967 (Shannon Run Rd)
Woodford County, Kentucky
- 5 fatal crashes
- 5 deaths
- Traffic Control Device: Traffic Light
- Intersection Type: Four-Way Intersection
Data and Methodology
This study is based on an analysis of fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the years 2004 through 2022. Only crashes flagged as ‘intersection-related’ by the NHTSA were counted.
For the purpose of this analysis, the Southern United States is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.
If you have been involved in a car accident in the Kentucky area, please do not hesitate to reach out to the car accident attorneys in Louisville from Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers.