Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Des Moines

I-80 is a transcontinental interstate that cuts east-west through the Des Moines metro, and its Iowa stretch has a grim distinction: more than 7 fatalities per 100 miles in 2019, one of the worst drunk driving fatality rates of any interstate corridor in the country (ValuePenguin analysis of NHTSA FARS data). The combination of long, flat stretches, heavy truck traffic, and late-night driving creates conditions where impaired and fatigued drivers cause devastating crashes.

Through the Des Moines metro, I-80 merges with I-35 for a shared corridor south of downtown before splitting again east of the city. This I-80/I-35 overlap carries enormous traffic volumes — commuters, regional travelers, and long-haul freight all competing for the same lanes. The interchange where I-80 and I-35 split east of Des Moines and the interchange with I-235 are persistent crash hotspots due to rapid lane changes and merging conflicts at highway speeds.

Rear-end collisions are the most common crash type on I-80 through the metro, especially during morning and evening rush hours when traffic suddenly slows. If you're driving I-80 through Des Moines, maintain a following distance of at least 3 to 4 seconds, stay alert through the I-35 merge zones, and avoid driving between midnight and 4 a.m. when impaired driver risk peaks.

I-235 is the main east-west highway through central Des Moines, carrying over 100,000 vehicles per day through the city center (Iowa DOT traffic counts). The highway connects I-80/I-35 on the south side to I-35 on the north, routing commuters directly through downtown. Rush hour congestion on I-235 is a daily reality, and the stop-and-go conditions produce a steady stream of rear-end collisions and aggressive lane-change crashes.

The most dangerous sections of I-235 include the interchange with I-35/I-80 on the south end, the curves near Valley West Drive, and the downtown segment where on-ramps and off-ramps are closely spaced. Drivers entering and exiting the highway across short distances create weaving conflicts that are especially dangerous at speed. The 2017 reconstruction of portions of I-235 improved some geometry, but the fundamental problem — too many vehicles on a highway not designed for current volumes — persists.

Speed compounds the congestion problem. When traffic clears after rush hour, drivers accelerate on the same road where moments earlier they were crawling. This speed variance between free-flow and congested conditions means the window between safe driving and a high-speed crash can close in seconds. If you commute on I-235, expect sudden slowdowns and keep your eyes up — checking a phone for even two seconds at 60 mph means traveling 176 feet blind.

I-35 runs north-south through the Des Moines metro, connecting the city to Minneapolis to the north and Kansas City to the south. It is one of the busiest freight corridors in the Midwest, and the truck traffic volume through Des Moines is substantial. The merge with I-80 south of the city creates a shared corridor that handles combined volumes from two major interstates, and the split points at both ends of that overlap are high-crash zones.

The I-35/I-80 interchange south of Des Moines is one of the most complex in the state. Drivers must navigate multiple lane shifts and ramp sequences to stay on their intended route. At highway speeds with heavy truck traffic, mistakes in this interchange lead to sideswipe collisions and missed-exit panic stops. The Iowa DOT has made incremental improvements, but the interchange remains a challenge for unfamiliar drivers.

North of Des Moines, I-35 passes through Ankeny and Ames, two of Iowa's fastest-growing communities. Increasing suburban traffic merging onto I-35 during peak hours has pushed crash rates higher along this stretch. Winter weather adds another layer of danger — Iowa averages about 30 inches of snow per year, and I-35's exposure to open prairie winds means whiteout conditions can develop with little warning (National Weather Service Des Moines).

East University Avenue is one of the most crash-prone surface streets in Des Moines. The road runs east from downtown through the east side, passing through commercial districts, residential neighborhoods, and areas with significant pedestrian activity. High traffic volumes, multiple signalized intersections, and left-turn conflicts make East University Avenue a persistent source of intersection crashes. The corridor between I-235 and Hubbell Avenue is particularly dangerous.

Ingersoll Avenue runs northwest from downtown through one of Des Moines's densest residential and commercial neighborhoods. The road carries steady traffic through a corridor lined with restaurants, shops, and apartment buildings — meaning high pedestrian exposure alongside moving vehicles. Ingersoll's intersections with 28th Street, 31st Street, and 42nd Street are frequent crash locations where turning vehicles conflict with through traffic and pedestrians in crosswalks.

Both East University Avenue and Ingersoll Avenue share a common problem: they were designed primarily to move vehicles quickly, but the neighborhoods around them generate pedestrian and bicycle traffic that this design doesn't protect. Des Moines has been investing in Complete Streets improvements, including protected bike lanes and signal timing changes, but the retrofitting process is slow and the crash data shows the gap between current conditions and safe design.

Fleur Drive connects the Des Moines International Airport to downtown and I-235, running north-south through the south side of the city. The road carries a mix of airport traffic, commuters, and local trips at relatively high speeds. The stretch between the airport and Army Post Road has seen multiple fatal and serious-injury crashes, with speed and aggressive driving as the leading factors (Des Moines Police Department crash data).

Southeast 14th Street is one of the busiest commercial corridors on the south side of Des Moines, running from downtown through a mix of retail, industrial, and residential land uses. The road's width and speed encourage fast driving through areas where pedestrians cross to reach bus stops, stores, and homes. Intersection crashes at SE 14th and Army Post Road, SE 14th and Watrous Avenue, and SE 14th and Park Avenue are consistently among the most reported in the city.

These south-side arterials reflect a broader pattern in Des Moines: the roads with the highest crash rates are wide, high-speed corridors running through areas where people live, walk, and shop. Redesigning these corridors to reduce speed and protect vulnerable road users would save lives, but the process requires sustained investment and political will.

Iowa recorded 378 traffic fatalities in 2023, the deadliest year on the state's roads since 2016 (Iowa DOT). In 2024, the toll was 351 — slightly lower but still above the five-year average of 347. The trend is moving in the wrong direction: Iowa's roads are getting more dangerous, not less, even as vehicle safety technology improves.

The leading factors in Iowa traffic fatalities are speed, impaired driving, and distracted driving. Roughly 25% of Iowa traffic fatalities involve an alcohol-impaired driver, and distracted driving — primarily phone use — is a growing contributor that is difficult to measure because drivers rarely admit to it after a crash (Iowa DOT). Iowa's rural roads are especially deadly: two-lane highways with high speed limits, no median barriers, and long distances to trauma centers produce fatality rates far above the national average.

Iowa's minimum auto insurance requirements are among the lowest in the country: $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage (Iowa Code § 516A.4). In a serious crash, these minimums are often exhausted before medical bills are fully covered. If you're in a crash with an underinsured driver, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may be your only source of adequate compensation.

After any crash in Des Moines: move to safety if possible, call 911, and request a police report. Iowa law requires drivers to report crashes that involve injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,500 (Iowa Code § 321.266). Exchange information with the other driver — name, insurance, license plate — and photograph the scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries.

Seek medical attention the same day, even if you feel fine. Crashes on I-80, I-235, and Des Moines's high-speed arterials frequently cause whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries that don't present symptoms for hours or days. Your medical records from the days immediately following the crash are the strongest evidence linking your injuries to the collision.

Iowa follows modified comparative fault with a 51% bar (Iowa Code § 668.3). This means you can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% at fault. If you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. If you are 30% at fault, your recovery is reduced by 30%. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 2 years from the date of injury (Iowa Code § 614.1(2)). For wrongful death, the deadline is also 2 years. Two years goes faster than you think — do not wait to get your claim started.

If you've been in an accident on one of Des Moines's dangerous roads, get your free Injury Claim Check. You'll answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we'll give you a personalized report that includes Iowa's 2-year filing deadline for your claim, your legal options based on the specifics of your crash, and whether connecting with a Des Moines personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Iowa's roads killed 378 people in 2023 — the worst year since 2016. I-80 has one of the highest drunk driving fatality rates of any interstate in the country. If you've been in a crash anywhere in the Des Moines metro, find out where you stand.