Here Are The Most Dangerous Intersections In Metro Phoenix
Phoenix has eight of the top 10 dangerous intersections across the Valley.
Using crash data from 2015-2019, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) ranked intersections across the region by crash risks.
The top intersection is 75th Avenue and Indian School Road in west Phoenix. Its older design lacks a lot of today’s standard features like a lagging yellow arrow for left turns, a signal above each lane and a pedestrian walk button.
During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Phoenix leaders approved $4.5 million on near-term actions for three intersections: 75th Avenue and Indian School Road, 16th Street and Camelback Road and 19th Avenue and Southern Avenue.
Engineer Yung Koprowski gave examples of near-term improvements: “Trimming of vegetation — and this could fall within an existing funded program and can be addressed quickly through a work order. Other short-term recommendations could include signing and striping changes.”
Specific plans for the three intersections must be researched and designed. The council also approved $1 million for improvements to other intersections on MAG’s Top 100 list and $500,000 for a comprehensive roadwork safety action plan.
“Our city didn’t just develop overnight, it was over decades and the values and the way we developed have changed over that time frame as well,” said Kini Knudson, street transportation director.
He said the strategic plan will require community input while adhering to the 4 “E’s” of traffic safety: evaluation, engineering, education and enforcement.
When viewing traffic fatality data from 2017-2019, Knudson said Phoenix had the third highest number of fatalities, behind Houston (No. 2) and Los Angeles (No. 1).
Failure to yield was noted 27% of the time as a contributing factor to crashes in Phoenix followed by speed at 24%.
These are the top five intersections ranked by crash risk according to MAG’s research.
1. 75th Avenue and Indian School in Phoenix.
2. 67th Avenue and Indian School in Phoenix.
3. 67th Avenue and McDowell Road in Phoenix.
4. 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road in Phoenix.
5. 51st Avenue and Camelback Road in Glendale.
