The vast majority of Oregon adults depend on a motor vehicle to accomplish the ordinary tasks of daily life. Whether driving to work, taking a child to school, keeping an appointment, or running an errand – it can feel as though we are constantly behind the wheel. Sometimes, everything runs smoothly, and driving is a pleasure. Other times, the sheer volume of traffic impedes movement terribly. And, of course, driving comes with an assortment of dangers that can imperil our safety, such as malfunctioning traffic lights, bad weather, perilous geography, unsafe drivers, and dangerous roads.
In fact, it turns out that some roads and highways experience many more crashes than others. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most dangerous roads in Oregon.
How Personal Injuries and Unsafe Roads Are Related
Across the country, thousands of car accidents occur due to unsafe road conditions. Who among us hasn’t experienced an unexpected pothole? The fact is, driving into a pothole can cause an accident. A variety of other unsafe road conditions contribute to accidents that result in injury and death. Examples include unsafe shoulders, confusing or missing road signs, and bad road designs.
Dangerous Roads in Oregon
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) maintains a great deal of data on motor vehicle crashes and produces crash statistics and reports. These statistics include data from all roads in Oregon, ranging from small county or city roads to larger state highways. In 2018, television station KGW8 performed an analysis of this crash data, which included the rate, severity, and frequency of crashes. Below are the top 3 roads the investigation determined to be the most dangerous in Oregon. You can review the report to see if you recognize any of the other roads in the top 10.
- Canyon Road and Highway 217 interchange in Beaverton – Over a three year period, 90 wrecks occurred at this location, and 37 of the crashes resulted in personal injury. Approximately 19,500 vehicles were driving on the road each day during the period studied. An ODOT representative admitted that the area is challenging.
- Sunset Highway at Vista Ridge Tunnel in Portland – This stretch of highway received 67,600 motor vehicles per day. There were 187 crashes over 3 years, with 89 of them involving personal injury. The report notes the breadth of the road grade and curves, along with congestion, as contributing factors.
- Highway 213 at Beavercreek Road in Oregon City – With average daily traffic of 24,000 vehicles, this intersection, located in Clackamas County, saw 87 crashes, with 39 of them resulting in personal injury. The report notes that the speed limit is 55 and that drivers often pass through the intersection at relatively high rates of speed.
Honorable Mention: Redwood Highway (Highway 199) – One roadway that did not make KGW8’s top 10, but which has recently drawn more scrutiny for its dangers, is Oregon’s Redwood Highway, near the California border. While the number of crashes may be fewer than many other locations, they are more likely to be fatal. Between 2011 and 2015, 24 fatalities occurred on a 41.6 mile-long stretch of the road. 22 more deaths occurred on the highway between 2016 and August 31, 2019.
Call with Questions
Automobile accidents can, and do, occur all over the state of Oregon. Unfortunately, many of the wrongful deaths and personal injuries resulting from these crashes are caused by the negligence of other drivers. If you have been injured as a result of a traffic accident, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.
The skillful and experienced personal injury attorneys at Nelson MacNeil Rayfield handle personal injury cases every day. We believe that it is imperative to hold people responsible for their negligent behavior. That way, all of our families will be safer.