In 2013, The World Health Organization (WHO) released its annual “Global status report on road safety” and included U.S. Highway 431 in its list of worst highways, according to Yellow Hammer News. The highway is 353 miles long and runs from the Alabama/Tennessee border to Dothan, Alabama. Oh, and its nickname is “Highway To Hell” (just like the famous AC/DC song). DrivingExperiences.com used data from the WHO study to create a “fear factor” scale of one to 10, giving U.S. 431 a four. The reason for the rating? Poor visibility, drivers traveling at high speeds, and quick two-to-four lane changes.

In 2013, there were 33,808 road fatalities in the United States, and U.S. 431 had the fourth-highest number in the country. When you travel on Highway 431, you will see numerous crosses erected in memory of those who died in vehicle crashes. But Alabama has not sat idly by — the state has been working on improvements since 2006 in order to make the highway safer for travelers. These improvements include widening dangerous sections of the road and expanding the patrols of state troopers. According to Reiff Law Firm, one particular section of Highway 431 that traveled from Pittsview to the border of Barbour County was so treacherous that it was bypassed in 2008. Notably, 31 people died on this stretch of the road because between 1992 and 2006.

It probably comes as no surprise that Los Angeles is the site of the highest rate of traffic fatalities in California. In 2019, 3,606 people died in motor vehicle accidents in California, according to the state’s Office of Traffic Safety. Three years earlier, in 2016, that number was just a little bit higher at 3,623, and 790 of these deaths occurred in Los Angeles County, per Ellis Law Corporation. The problem is that these highways are very congested and feature less-than-ideal road conditions, sharp turns, tired truck drivers, distracted motorists, and impaired drivers — a deadly combination.

One of Southern California’s most dangerous roads is State Road 138, which runs through part of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. The road is known for its steep mountainous terrain, sharp curves, and drop-offs. It’s been dubbed “Death Trap Highway” and “Blood Alley” due to its large number of traffic-related deaths, according to the Reiff Law Firm. Even though it’s only around 105-miles long, the highway has a dangerous reputation. One person wrote on Trip Advisor in 2019: “Was really gnarly when it goes to one lane, and there are no lights to provide much-needed safety. My wife was gripping my arm the entire drive.”

Arizona, also known as the Grand Canyon State, is stunning when it comes to its natural vistas. There are many excellent tourist attractions to visit, and they may require some interstate travel to reach them. The problem is that people are 33 percent more likely to get into a car accident involving a fatality in Arizona than in other parts of the country, according to The Advocates Injury Attorneys. That’s why it’s a good idea to be vigilant when you’re traveling in this southwestern state.

Interstate 40 runs through the northern part of Arizona through Flagstaff and encompasses 359 miles. It’s part of a larger interstate system that joins California to North Carolina, and this particular region of Arizona largely follows what you may know as Route 66 — one of America’s most famous roads. These days, Interstate 40 is very busy and particularly popular in the summer, but it’s dangerous in each state that it runs through.

At one point, over a span of four years, 220 fatalities occurred on this Arizona road. As a result, the state’s Department of Transportation decided to include it in its Safety Corridor program to control the traffic and make it safer for travelers. The problem is that drivers have to deal with summer brush fires and winter snow and ice, as well as congestion and road conditions that require a lot of focus. 

Interstate 40 is back with a vengeance, only this time it’s the stretch in New Mexico that’s the problem. As we noted previously, Geotab examined crash data from 2008 to 2017 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The company determined that New Mexico was the third-worst state in terms of crashes and fatalities. As for I-40 specifically, it experiences an average of 34 crashes annually, according to KRQE News. The interstate runs through the middle of New Mexico, including Albuquerque, per The Advocates Injury Attorneys. 

The New Mexico portion is 373-miles long and is one of the busiest routes in America. Many commercial trucks travel on I-40, and it can get heavily congested at times. One portion northeast of downtown Albuquerque in which it connects with I-25 is particularly treacherous. Around 300,000 vehicles travel in this area — known as the “Big I” — each day. Car accidents are a common occurrence due to speeding, traffic, and distracted driving. It’s worth noting that over one five-year period, the interstate saw 293 fatalities.

Florida is a tourist mecca, and many people drive there or rent cars to get from place to place. Plus, locals use the roads for both commuting and their daily errands. A 2021 study by Teletrac determined that Interstate 4 between Tampa and Daytona Beach was the deadliest portion of highway in America, according to Positively Osceola. Researchers looked at the number of deaths per mile, the typical time and day fatal accidents took place, and common causes for these crashes. The study found that Orlando was the deadliest city on I-4, which is about 132-miles long. Between 2016 and 2019, 150 people were involved in fatal car crashes, equaling about one death per mile. 

However, officials from the Florida Department of Transportation called the study outdated, per WESH 2 News. They noted that there have been enhancements over the past few years, and more improvements are in progress. Meanwhile, the third deadliest highway on Teletrac’s list was also in Florida: U.S. 192 between Four Corners and Indialantic. The study found 10 deaths on the road in the Kissimmee area. On the positive side, there’s been a lot of construction on roads in central Florida, which are intended to decrease crashes and fatalities in Osceola County.