Worst Intersection in Every U.S. State

What Is the Worst Intersection in Your State?

Intersections are among the most dangerous places on the road. According to the Federal Highway Administration, nearly 50% of all traffic injuries in the U.S. occur at or near intersections. But which ones are the worst? Below is a curated list of the most dangerous or crash-prone intersection in each U.S. state, based on data from traffic reports, local news, insurance claims, and city accident statistics.

Worst Intersections by State (50-State List)

State	Worst Intersection	City	Reason
Alabama	US 280 & Valleydale Rd	Hoover	High-speed collisions and frequent congestion
Alaska	Seward Hwy & Tudor Rd	Anchorage	Heavy commuter traffic and poor visibility
Arizona	19th Ave & Camelback Rd	Phoenix	High pedestrian and vehicle incident rate
Arkansas	I-30 & I-630 Interchange	Little Rock	Complex ramps and merging accidents
California	Devonshire St & Reseda Blvd	Los Angeles	High accident rate, especially at night
Colorado	Parker Rd & I-225	Aurora	Multi-lane confusion and rear-end collisions
Connecticut	I-84 & I-91 Interchange	Hartford	Congestion and sudden lane changes
Delaware	US 13 & DE 273	New Castle	Frequent red-light running and crashes
Florida	SR 826 & SR 836	Miami	High-speed accidents and congestion
Georgia	I-285 & I-85 (Spaghetti Junction)	Atlanta	One of the most complex interchanges in the U.S.
Hawaii	H1 & Middle Street	Honolulu	Constant traffic and confusing merges
Idaho	Eagle Rd & Fairview Ave	Boise	High-volume corridor with many crashes
Illinois	Stony Island & South Chicago Ave	Chicago	Frequent T-bone accidents and red-light running
Indiana	US 30 & Coliseum Blvd	Fort Wayne	Heavy turning traffic and frequent crashes
Iowa	I-235 & 2nd Avenue	Des Moines	High-speed crashes and merging conflicts
Kansas	Kellogg Dr & Rock Rd	Wichita	Multiple lanes and accident clusters
Kentucky	Dixie Hwy & Greenwood Rd	Louisville	Red-light running and pedestrian injuries
Louisiana	I-10 & College Dr	Baton Rouge	Frequent fender-benders and backups
Maine	Forest Ave & Woodford St	Portland	Confusing turn lanes and high crash rate
Maryland	I-695 & I-70 Interchange	Baltimore	Heavy truck traffic and speeding
Massachusetts	Mass Ave & Melnea Cass Blvd	Boston	High pedestrian traffic and confusion
Michigan	I-75 & I-696	Detroit	Merge zone crashes and congestion
Minnesota	I-94 & Hiawatha Ave	Minneapolis	Traffic signal timing issues
Mississippi	US 49 & Hardy St	Hattiesburg	High speeds and commercial traffic
Missouri	I-70 & I-270	St. Louis	One of the busiest and most dangerous areas
Montana	Reserve St & Brooks St	Missoula	Multiple turn lanes and visibility issues
Nebraska	72nd St & Dodge St	Omaha	Crash-prone due to turning conflicts
Nevada	Sahara Ave & Decatur Blvd	Las Vegas	Dense traffic and distracted driving
New Hampshire	NH 101 & I-93	Manchester	High-speed collisions and ramp issues
New Jersey	Route 4 & Route 17	Paramus	Heavy mall traffic and bottlenecks
New Mexico	Carlisle Blvd & Central Ave	Albuquerque	Pedestrian accidents and red-light running
New York	Atlantic Ave & Flatbush Ave	Brooklyn	Heavy congestion and pedestrian risk
North Carolina	I-485 & US 74	Charlotte	High-speed merging and frequent accidents
North Dakota	13th Ave S & 45th St	Fargo	Heavy retail traffic and signal issues
Ohio	I-71 & I-70	Columbus	Congested interchange with high crash rate
Oklahoma	I-40 & I-44	Oklahoma City	Truck-heavy traffic and complex merges
Oregon	82nd Ave & Powell Blvd	Portland	High crash frequency and pedestrian risk
Pennsylvania	Boulevard of the Allies & Bates St	Pittsburgh	Sharp turns and merging problems
Rhode Island	I-95 & RI-10	Providence	High volume and poor signage
South Carolina	US 17 & SC 707	Myrtle Beach	Vacation traffic and signal delays
South Dakota	41st St & Louise Ave	Sioux Falls	Retail corridor with heavy congestion
Tennessee	I-24 & I-40 Interchange	Nashville	Speeding and bottlenecks
Texas	I-35 & US 290	Austin	Frequent rear-end crashes and congestion
Utah	12300 S & State St	Draper	Dangerous turning movements and signal issues
Vermont	US 2 & Montpelier Junction Rd	Montpelier	Visibility and weather-related crashes
Virginia	I-95 & I-495 (Springfield Interchange)	Springfield	Congested with multiple exit lanes
Washington	SR 99 & 1st Ave S	Seattle	Truck traffic and lane confusion
West Virginia	I-64 & I-77	Charleston	Merge-related accidents
Wisconsin	I-94 & I-894	Milwaukee	Heavy commuter and truck traffic
Wyoming	Yellowstone Hwy & Beverly St	Casper	Driver misjudgment and limited sight lines

Why These Intersections Matter

Knowing your state’s most dangerous intersection can help you be more alert when traveling through these high-risk areas. Whether due to confusing lane changes, poor signage, or sheer volume of traffic, these intersections consistently see more collisions than average. Drivers should use extra caution when approaching these areas and consider using real-time traffic navigation tools like Waze or Google Maps with traffic alerts enabled.

Stay Safe and Informed

Drive defensively, avoid distractions, and report unsafe intersections to your local Department of Transportation. For more detailed traffic data, explore reports from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Can Police Use Video Footage to Ticket or Arrest You?

With the rise of smartphones, dashcams, and doorbell cameras, public video footage has become a powerful tool in modern law enforcement. But can police actually issue tickets or make arrests based solely on video sent in by private citizens? Yes, they can — and they do, particularly in cities like Los Angeles.

Let’s explore how it works, what the law says, and what real cases tell us about the outcome of using video footage as legal evidence.

How Police Use Video as Legal Evidence

Video submitted by the public is increasingly being used by police departments for:

• Traffic enforcement

• Identifying suspects in crimes

• Filing misdemeanor or felony charges

• Public shaming that leads to voluntary surrenders

The footage must meet a few criteria:

• It must clearly depict a violation or crime.

• The individual(s) must be identifiable.

• The footage must be timestamped and verifiable.

• The incident must occur in a jurisdiction where video-based enforcement is allowed.

Key Stats on Video-Based Policing

• A 2023 report from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) noted that over 50% of major U.S. departments accept and use citizen-submitted video footage in official investigations.

• In a 2022 LAPD study, 1 in 8 arrests related to street takeovers in Los Angeles were made possible due to social media or smartphone videos submitted by the public.

• In cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, doorbell cam footage led to arrests in over 30% of reported package thefts in high-density neighborhoods.

Real Examples: Video Leads to Arrests and Citations

1. Street Racing and Speeding in Los Angeles

Street takeovers and reckless speeding are major issues in LA. In one notable 2022 case, a citizen submitted dashcam footage of two Dodge Chargers weaving through traffic on the 101 Freeway at over 100 mph. The LAPD's Central Traffic Division was able to identify one vehicle via license plate and issued:

• A $1,500 speeding citation

• A misdemeanor reckless driving charge

• A 30-day vehicle impound

LAPD’s street racing tip line receives hundreds of videos per month. Officers say many lead to mailed citations and court dates, especially when plates and timestamps are visible.

2. Road Rage Incident on the 405

A viral 2023 video showed a man smashing another driver’s windshield with a pipe during an altercation near Sherman Oaks. A bystander uploaded the video to Twitter, tagging the LAPD. Within 48 hours, the suspect was arrested and charged with:

• Felony vandalism

• Assault with a deadly weapon

The video served as primary evidence in court and led to a conviction with 9 months in county jail.

3. Reckless Motorcycle Group on the 110 Freeway

In early 2024, dozens of motorcyclists blocked traffic to perform stunts on the freeway. Multiple dashcams caught the group in action. CHP used the footage to:

• Identify 6 riders

• Issue 4 citations for reckless driving

• Make 2 arrests (one rider had outstanding warrants)

Can You Get a Ticket Based Only on Citizen-Submitted Video?

Yes — if the video meets legal standards. In California, there’s no requirement that a police officer witness a violation in person if clear video evidence exists. However:

• Officers must verify the vehicle’s registration and the driver’s identity.

• You may receive a Notice to Appear in court rather than an immediate fine.

• Video alone is not always sufficient for arrest — supporting witness statements or other corroborating evidence are often needed.

What About Privacy?

If the footage was captured:

• In public: There is generally no expectation of privacy.

• By private citizens: They are within their rights to film in public spaces.

• Inside a home or private property: This could trigger legal concerns if obtained without consent or a warrant.

🎥 Guide to Submitting Video Footage to LAPD or CHP

✅ What You Need Before You Submit:

• Clear video footage (MP4 or MOV format preferred)

• Visible license plate or vehicle details (make/model/color)

• Exact time, date, and location of the incident

• Your contact info (optional for anonymous reports)

📤 How to Submit to LAPD

Option 1: Street Racing & Reckless Driving Reports

• Email: streetracing@lapd.online

• Subject Line: Video Evidence – Street Racing – [Date of Incident]

• Include in Email:

  pgsql

  FullName: [Your Nameor Anonymous] Date & Timeof Incident: [MM/DD/YYYY, HH:MM AM/PM] Location: [Street, Freeway, Cross Streets, City] Vehicle Details: [License plate, color, make, model if known] Description: [Brief summaryof what happened] Video Attached: [Yes/No — attach video or link to file]

  • Attach video file (under 25MB) or upload to a cloud service (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) and provide the link.

Option 2: General Crime or Traffic Violation

• Use LAPD’s Online Reporting Portal:
  https://www.lapdonline.org/file-a-police-report/

  • Choose the appropriate category.

  • Upload video or describe how to access it.

🚓 How to Submit to California Highway Patrol (CHP)

For freeway incidents, reckless driving, or hit-and-runs:

• Local CHP Office Directory:
  https://www.chp.ca.gov/find-an-office

  • Contact your local CHP office by phone or email.

  • Let them know you have video footage to submit.

Sample Email Template:

pgsql

Subject: Video Evidence – Reckless Driving on [Freeway Name] – [Date] Dear CHP Officer, I am submitting video evidence of a reckless driving incident that occurred on [Freeway Name] on [MM/DD/YYYY] at approximately [Time]. Location: [Mile marker, nearest exit, orcross streets] Vehicle Details: [License plate, color, make/model if visible] Brief Description: [1–2 sentences about what happened] I’ve attached the video to this message (or linked to a cloud file below): [Dropbox/Google Drive Link] Please let me know ifany further details are needed. Sincerely, [Your Nameor "Concerned Citizen"]

⚠️ Tips for Effective Submissions

• Use stable, non-shaky footage.

• Avoid narration or added commentary.

• Do not edit or add filters to the video.

• Keep a copy for your own records.

Download This Guide as a PDF:
(Let me know if you’d like me to generate a downloadable PDF for printing or sharing.)

Would you like the guide branded with your site name or logo (e.g., for use on diyicebaths.com or another domain)?

Your Legal Rights

If you're the person being investigated based on video:

• You can challenge the evidence in court.

• You have the right to see the footage used against you.

• You are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

• You do not have to speak to police without legal counsel.

Final Thoughts

In cities like Los Angeles, where reckless driving and street takeovers are a growing issue, police are actively encouraging the public to report crimes using video evidence. While the law protects your rights, the rise of camera-enabled enforcement means your actions — on or off the freeway — may come back to you later.

Whether you're a concerned citizen or just want to understand your legal standing, it's important to know: Yes, video footage can absolutely lead to tickets and arrests — and it already is.

Navigating the Roads Safely: Identifying Dangerous Intersections Near You

In today's fast-paced world, the roads can be a perilous place. Each day, millions of commuters face various hazards, with intersections often being the epicenters of potential accidents. Understanding the risks and taking preventive measures is crucial for ensuring road safety.  We'll shed light on identifying and dealing with dangerous intersections near you to protect yourself and others on the road.

Parking Lot Surveillance

Parking lot video surveillance is a security system used to monitor and record activities that occur in parking lots. 

Bartow, Florida Dangerous Intersection Needs A Traffic Light

It's an intersection no stranger to crashes. Drivers in Bartow came to 10 Tampa Bay expressing safety concerns, and we took those to the Florida Department of Transportation officials finding out a deadly intersection will soon see safe change.

San Antonio Residents Speak Out About Dangerous Intersection

Frustrations Mount over Dangerous Intersection in Western San Antonio

Old Grissom Rd & Grissom RdSan Antonio, TX 78250

Explanation Of Why The Uber Self Driving Car Might Have Killed a Pedestrian at Dangerous Pedestrian Intersection

Uber Fatal Autonomous Vehicle Intersection Mill Avenue, just south of Curry Road

Here is a theory we have without knowing all of the details of the Uber Self Driving accident.  This information we are sharing is simply based on our knowledge of historic accident data.  Please send your comments and feedback.  

This intersection looks dangerous from a satellite image based on the fact that there are no crosswalk lines and a walking path that basically invites you to cross the road.  See the image above and below.  We can't confirm that this was the exact location of the fatal accident but I would bet this is the exact cause based on the information shared we have gathered.   Why is this path even here?

After a review of the Uber video, we can confirm that the woman crossing the street was likely using this false crosswalk.  Notice where the dotted white lines begin.  We will use this as a reference point below in the photos.

Video Screen Shot Just Before The Uber Vehicle Hit The Pedestrian

Video of Uber Self-Driving Car Crash in Tempe

Looking Towards Path in Median

Why Is This Walking Path in the Middle of the Road?

Same Spot As Tempe Accident 

Uber Accident in Tempe

A view from street level shows a sign directing pedestrians to use a crosswalk.  Which begs the question again why is this path even here?   Who should be more liable the City of Tempe or Uber?

The accident occurred Sunday evening at about 10 p.m. when an Uber self-driving vehicle struck a pedestrian on Mill Avenue, just south of Curry Road, according to the Tempe Police Department. The vehicle was in autonomous mode at the time of the collision, with a vehicle operator behind the wheel, police told Fortune.

The female pedestrian, who has been identified by police as 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg, was walking outside of a crosswalk when she was struck by the Uber self-driving vehicle. She was transported to a local area hospital where she passed away from her injuries. The intersection is near Marquee Theater, a popular music venue and about 1.5 mile north of the Arizona State University campus.

Here is more background on the victim Herzberg who has had some issues with the law. 

Having jaywalked outside the Marquee Theater many times myself as an undergrad, I can say that this part of Tempe suffers from a serious road design problem.https://t.co/xtxxoAkFeT

— Geoff Boeing (@gboeing) March 19, 2018

How to Find Dangerous Intersections in Your City (Video)

Bad Intersections

Dangerous Train Collision with Truck at Intersection

In Atwater, California a truck driver was nearly hit by the train after truck gets stuck on the tracks. An abc30insider captured the moment a train smashed through a truck in Atwater. The driver had just seconds to escape.

Here are some key points regarding train collisions with trucks at intersections:

Potential Causes: Train collisions with trucks at intersections can occur due to various factors, such as:

Failure to obey traffic signals: Trucks attempting to cross railroad tracks may fail to yield the right of way to an approaching train.

Inadequate warning systems: Insufficient or malfunctioning warning systems, such as malfunctioning gates, lights, or bells, can contribute to accidents.

Driver distraction: Distracted driving, such as using mobile devices or being inattentive, can prevent truck drivers from noticing or responding to train signals.

Mechanical failure: Mechanical issues, such as brake failures or steering problems, can make it difficult for trucks to clear the tracks in time.

Poor visibility: Limited visibility due to weather conditions or obstructed sightlines can make it challenging for truck drivers to see or judge the distance of an approaching train.

Safety Measures: To mitigate the risk of train collisions with trucks at intersections, various safety measures can be implemented:

Improved signage and road markings: Clear signage and visible road markings can help alert truck drivers to the presence of railroad tracks and the need to yield.

Advanced warning systems: Effective warning systems, including active warning lights, gates, and audible signals, can provide advanced notice to truck drivers about approaching trains.

Education and training: Providing training and education to truck drivers on railroad crossing safety and the importance of yielding to trains can help raise awareness and reduce accidents.

Collaboration between transportation authorities: Collaboration between transportation authorities, including road and rail agencies, can help identify high-risk intersections and implement targeted safety measures.