America’s interstates are some of the busiest and most dangerous roads in the country. A list of some of the most hazardous highways reveals Georgia has one of the deadliest highways in the country.
Recent statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation highlighted an alarming increase in fatal auto accidents on our roads.
The fifth most dangerous interstate in the country, according to Everquote, is I-95 which runs through Georgia. Interstate 95 runs from Maine all the way to the southern city of Miami in Florida.
The interstate stretches 1,926 miles and has a fatal accident rate of 0.89 fatalities per mile. It has featured in the insurance company’s most dangerous list six times.
Interstate 4 in Florida is the most dangerous in the nation. Interstate 4 runs from Tampa to Daytona Beach. This 132-mile interstate connects from I-275 to I-95. It experienced 1.41 fatalities per mile in the past six years, making it the most dangerous interstate in the country. The highway has also been in the top 10 most dangerous interstates for the past six years.
One of the deadliest highways in the country is in Georgia
Statistics released in October 2017 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found traffic deaths rose 10.4 percent in the first six months of 2016 compared to the same figure the year before.
The increase comes at a time when cars are meant to be getting safer. Although it may also indicate a stronger economy, lower gas prices and increasing numbers of drivers on the road, other factors may be at play
The EverQuote article put much of the blame for the increase in fatal crashes in 2016 on distracted driving. A recent study found as many as 61 percent of drivers use cell phones on some drives or most drives.
Given the monotony of interstate driving, motorists may be more likely to reach for their phones behind the wheel.
EverQuote compiled the information based on highway lengths and then compared it to EverQuote’s self-driving app.
The NHTSA leads the way in fighting distracted driving. It states in 2015, 3,477 people lost their lives in distracted driving crashes. The watchdog says 391,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
During the daylight hours, as many as 660,000 drivers are using cell phones while driving, states the NHTSA.
Typically, southern states have more distracted drivers. If you have been harmed by a driver on a cell phone or a driver who is distracted in any other way, please call the Law Office of Michael West at (404) 913-1529.