The deadliest intersections in the Northeastern United States
Intersections present a unique set of hazards for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Conflicting traffic patterns, limited visibility, and improper signaling often contribute to the high number of fatal accidents at these locations.
To better understand where motorists and other road users are at the highest risk of being killed, Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers examined data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on fatal accidents that took place between 2004 and 2022.
During that span, over 21,000 people were killed at intersections in the Northeastern United States—with urban areas being particularly dangerous due to higher traffic volumes.
Key Findings:
- Nine of the 10 deadliest intersections in the Northeast are four-way intersections with traffic control signals.
- Rhode Island and Maine are the only two states with more than one intersection among the top 12 deadliest in the region.
- Three of the deadliest intersections can be found on US-1.
- 84% of all fatal intersection-related crashes at the intersections happened in urban areas—the most of any U.S. region.
- Fatal intersection-related crashes are more likely to involve a pedestrian in the Northeast. In fact, one in four involved a pedestrian.
A Decline in Fatal Crashes
Unlike other major U.S. regions, the Northeast saw a decline in intersection-related fatalities during the observation period. Fatal crashes dropped by 8.5%, while the number of fatalities decreased by 9%. Despite this overall improvement, the Northeast had the highest proportion of pedestrian-involved crashes at intersections, with 27% of all crashes involving at least one pedestrian.
