Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Phoenix

The roundabout at 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road had 411 crashes from 2017 to 2021 — over 100 more than any other intersection in Maricopa County (Maricopa Association of Governments). That averages to more than one crash every five days at a single intersection.

The roundabout was built in 2002 when the area was largely undeveloped. Since then, massive residential and commercial growth has flooded the intersection with traffic volumes it was never designed to handle. Confusing signage and lane assignments cause frequent last-second lane changes, and drivers unfamiliar with roundabout navigation regularly enter from the wrong lane or fail to yield to circulating traffic.

MAG has ranked this intersection as the worst in the county and it is under study for possible conversion to a signalized intersection. Until then, approach this roundabout with extreme caution — reduce speed well before entry, stay in your lane, and yield to traffic already in the circle. If you've been in a crash here, photograph the scene including the lane markings and signage, which are key evidence for liability.

67th Avenue and McDowell Road ranked #1 in the entire Phoenix metro area for crash severity on the MAG Weighted Intersection Safety Score, with 229 crashes from 2018 to 2022. The Safety Score weights crash severity at 50%, meaning the crashes at this intersection are not just frequent — they are disproportionately likely to cause serious injury or death.

This west Phoenix intersection sits in a high-traffic commercial corridor with fast-moving arterial roads, frequent turning movements, and significant pedestrian activity. The wide lanes and long signal cycles encourage high speeds, while the mix of commercial driveways and bus stops creates constant conflict between through traffic, turning vehicles, and pedestrians.

Other dangerous intersections along the 67th Avenue corridor include 67th Avenue and Indian School Road (167 crashes) and 67th Avenue and Thomas Road (128 crashes). The entire 67th Avenue corridor through west Phoenix demands extra caution from drivers.

Indian School Road spans roughly 40 miles across the Phoenix metro and contains multiple intersections on the MAG Top 100 crash risk list. The stretch between 53rd Avenue and 91st Avenue on the west side and 30th Street to 3rd Street near downtown are the worst segments. 83rd Avenue and Indian School Road recorded 187 crashes from 2018 to 2022, and 75th Avenue and Indian School Road had 249 crashes from 2017 to 2021.

Camelback Road is similarly dangerous. The intersection at 27th Avenue and Camelback Road had 206 crashes from 2018 to 2022, while 51st Avenue and Camelback Road recorded 174. Central Avenue and Camelback Road averages approximately 114 crashes per year. These wide, high-speed arterials cut through mixed-use areas where commercial traffic, residential traffic, and pedestrians converge.

The pattern across these corridors is consistent: roads designed for speed and volume running through neighborhoods that need them to function more like local streets. Until road design catches up, these corridors will continue to produce crashes at rates far above city averages.

Interstate 10 recorded more freeway fatalities than any other highway in the Phoenix area, with 17 deaths in 2022 alone (ADOT). The interstate stretches over 400 miles across Arizona and carries massive traffic volumes through the Phoenix metro — particularly the downtown corridor where I-10 intersects with I-17 at 'The Stack,' one of the busiest and most complex interchanges in the Southwest.

The Stack interchange requires drivers to navigate tight curves, short merge lanes, and rapid lane changes at highway speeds while surrounded by concrete barriers. The design creates persistent bottlenecks during peak hours and high-speed conflicts during off-peak hours when traffic opens up. Rear-end crashes during congestion and high-speed sideswipe crashes during lane changes are the most common collision types.

The I-10 corridor between Phoenix and Tucson is also particularly hazardous — long straight stretches encourage excessive speed, and the arid landscape with limited services means crashes in remote segments can go unnoticed for critical minutes. If you're in an I-10 crash in the Phoenix metro, move to the shoulder if possible and call 911 immediately — staying in the travel lanes on this high-volume interstate is extremely dangerous.

I-17 (Black Canyon Freeway) runs north-south through Phoenix and is especially dangerous near The Stack interchange with I-10. The steep elevation changes north of Black Canyon City, regular construction zones, and heavy commuter traffic in the urban section create varied hazards. Weaving traffic between closely spaced on- and off-ramps in the central Phoenix segment is a persistent problem.

The Loop 101 (Pima Freeway and Agua Fria Freeway) circles the metro area and carries heavy suburban commuter traffic. The interchange with I-17 (the Deer Valley area) and the interchange with Loop 202 (Tempe/Scottsdale) are crash hotspots where high volumes of merging traffic create congestion and rear-end collisions. The Loop 202 (Red Mountain and Santan freeways) has similar issues, particularly the interchange with I-10 in Chandler and the US 60 connection.

Loop 303 on the west side of the metro is newer but sees increasing crash rates as rapid development in Goodyear, Buckeye, and Surprise brings heavier traffic to a freeway that many drivers are still learning. Speed is a major factor on all Phoenix-area freeways — ADOT data shows speeding was a factor in crashes that led to 417 deaths statewide in 2024, accounting for 34% of all traffic fatalities.

Phoenix has the highest pedestrian fatality rate of any large city in the United States. In 2023, pedestrians were involved in 44% of all fatal crashes in Phoenix, with 100 pedestrian deaths. The year before was worse — 117 pedestrian fatalities in 2022. Of the 2023 pedestrian deaths, 77% occurred at night, highlighting the lethal combination of poor lighting, high vehicle speeds, and inadequate crosswalk infrastructure.

Hit-and-run incidents accounted for 24% of pedestrian deaths in 2023. The most dangerous corridors for pedestrians mirror the most dangerous corridors for drivers — Indian School Road, McDowell Road, and the 43rd Avenue corridor through west Phoenix. 43rd Avenue from Lamar Road to McDowell Road was ranked the most dangerous local road in Arizona for pedestrians in a 2019 analysis.

Phoenix's road design is the root cause. The city was built around the car, with wide, high-speed arterials that prioritize vehicle throughput over pedestrian safety. Six-lane roads with 45 mph speed limits run through neighborhoods where people walk to bus stops, grocery stores, and schools. Until the infrastructure changes, pedestrians on Phoenix roads face an outsized risk — and drivers who hit them face serious legal consequences including criminal charges for failure to yield.

Phoenix recorded 1,354 alcohol-related crashes in 2023 and 1,351 in 2024 (ADOT). Arizona's DUI laws are among the toughest in the country, with mandatory jail time even for first offenses, but impaired driving remains a leading cause of fatal crashes across the metro.

Weekend nights are the deadliest window. The entertainment districts along Scottsdale Road, Mill Avenue in Tempe, and downtown Phoenix produce a steady flow of impaired drivers onto the freeway system. I-10 and I-17 see disproportionate numbers of alcohol-related crashes during late-night and early-morning hours.

If you're hit by a drunk driver in Phoenix, you have strong legal options. The driver's DUI arrest or conviction is powerful evidence of negligence in your civil claim. Arizona's dram shop law (A.R.S. § 4-311) also allows you to pursue the bar or restaurant that served the impaired driver if they continued to serve a visibly intoxicated person. This gives you access to the establishment's commercial insurance, which typically has higher policy limits than an individual's auto coverage.

After any crash in Phoenix: move to safety if possible, call 911, and request a police report. The Phoenix Police Department responds to injury crashes and will create an official crash report — you'll need this for your insurance claim. Exchange information with the other driver (name, insurance, license plate) and photograph the scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries.

Seek medical attention even if you feel fine. Injuries from high-speed crashes on I-10 or the Loop freeways — particularly whiplash, concussions, and internal injuries — often don't present symptoms for hours or days. Your medical records from the days immediately following the crash are critical evidence for your claim.

Arizona's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 2 years from the date of injury under A.R.S. § 12-542. For wrongful death, the deadline is also 2 years. Claims against government entities — such as the City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, or ADOT for road defects — require a notice of claim within 180 days under A.R.S. § 12-821.01. If a road design flaw or missing signage contributed to your crash, this shorter deadline applies and you need to act fast.

If you've been in an accident on one of Phoenix'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 Arizona's filing deadline for your claim, your legal options based on the specifics of your crash, and whether connecting with a Phoenix personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Phoenix's traffic fatality rate leads the nation's largest cities. Arizona gives you just 2 years to file a claim — and only 180 days if a government-maintained road contributed to your crash. Don't wait to find out where you stand.