Did you know that more car accidents occur in Las Vegas than in any other state? Among them, intersection accidents have the highest number of fatal accidents, and surprisingly, they also include areas with a high concentration of Koreans. In this column, we will take a look at which roads, which neighborhoods, and which intersections have the most accidents.
Key takeaways:
From 2019 to 2023, there were a total of 190,820 motor vehicle crashes in Nevada, 28% of which occurred at intersections. Although this rate is lower than the national average (intersection crashes are about 40% of all accidents), Nevada's intersection crash fatality rate is 40% higher than the national average. This means you need to be extra careful when crossing intersections in Nevada.
For this reason, we analyzed more than 50,000 intersection-related accidents that occurred between 2019 and 2023 to determine which intersections are the most dangerous and should be approached with the most caution. Nevada's Most Dangerous Intersections
The map above shows the 50 most dangerous intersections in Nevada and all intersection-related accidents from 2019 to 2023. When ranking, the number of traffic accidents, injuries, deaths, hit-and-run accidents, alcohol-related accidents, and pedestrian-related accidents at each intersection were comprehensively considered to calculate the risk index. Nevada-specific results are presented by state and major cities with a population of 250,000 or more, and a comparison of average risk scores by major city is also included.
50 Most Dangerous Intersections in Nevada
On September 10, 2024, a 78-year-old passenger lost his life in a tragic accident when his vehicle collided with a pickup truck in North Las Vegas. Two other people, including the driver, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. This accident occurred at North Commerce Street and West Craig Road, which according to our analysis is the most dangerous intersection in Nevada.
A total of 54,302 people were injured in traffic accidents in Nevada over the past five years, representing 39% of all traffic accident injuries. Additionally, more than one-tenth (12%) of traffic accidents at intersections were hit-and-run accidents. There have been 91 traffic accidents at this intersection over five years, including three drunk driving-related accidents, 11 hit-and-run accidents, and 118 injuries. This intersection has the highest number of crashes, injuries, and hit-and-runs of any intersection in Nevada.
This intersection is home to the 170-acre Craig Ranch Regional Park, an outdoor space that hosts a variety of activities and events, including a skate park, playground, and civic plaza. There are two high schools and an elementary school within two miles of the intersection, with several other schools nearby. Schools, residential areas, shopping centers, and parks that serve as community hubs combine to generate significant vehicle traffic. The risk of traffic accidents in the area appears to be increasing, especially as vehicle traffic surges during school drop-off times, park events, and concerts.
The second most dangerous intersection is East Craig Road and North Fifth Avenue, another intersection on Craig Road in North Las Vegas. Located just 1.7 miles from the most dangerous intersection, it is likely to see similar traffic patterns. A total of 76 traffic accidents occurred here, including one drunk driving accident and eight hit-and-run accidents, resulting in 85 injuries and one death.
The three most dangerous intersections are West Desert Inn Road and South Jones Boulevard in Las Vegas. There were 51 crashes here, five of which involved drunk driving and two hit-and-runs, resulting in 92 injuries. These roads are major thoroughfares that connect local roads and highways. As traffic increases due to connectivity with highways, the incidence of crashes is also increasing. Additionally, Desert Inn Road is not located directly on the Strip, but is a major access road that runs parallel to the Strip.
Another notable intersection near the Las Vegas Strip is South Valley View Blvd and West Twain Ave, which ranked 24th overall. This intersection is located only 1.5 miles (approximately 2.4 km) from the Las Vegas Strip and is especially frequented by Koreans, making it the most dangerous intersection among intersections close to the Las Vegas Strip.
To reduce traffic accidents, measures such as improved traffic lights, clearer lane markings, and improved signage can be helpful. Speed reduction devices such as speed cameras and speed bumps can also be effective in reducing accident rates.
The most dangerous intersections in major Nevada cities
Next, as in the statewide analysis, we took a closer look at the most dangerous intersections in Nevada's major cities with populations greater than 250,000. Those cities are Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Reno.
Half of Las Vegas intersections are within a five-mile radius of the Las Vegas Strip. There is a lot of traffic in this area due to tourists. In addition to the proliferation of transportation options for tourists, many tourists drive themselves, often with little awareness of local traffic conditions and road structures.
In particular, the intersection of South Decatur Blvd and West Oakey Blvd is considered the most dangerous intersection in Las Vegas, with 54 traffic accidents occurring here alone. Of these, five were drunk driving-related accidents and one was an accident involving pedestrian injuries. Additionally, there were two hit-and-run accidents, 82 injuries, and 2 deaths.
Henderson's suburban environment is characterized by a mix of residential, commercial and recreational traffic. Therefore, typical traffic flows include local commuters, families and shoppers, and intersections near school zones, shopping centers and recreational facilities tend to have higher accident rates.
The analysis found that the intersection of South Eastern Avenue and West Horizon Ridge Pkwy was the most dangerous intersection, with a total of 34 accidents over the five-year study period. Of these, four were accidents involving drunk driving and one was an accident involving nearby pedestrians.
In particular, this intersection is pointed out as a serious problem as it caused 22 injury accidents and 4 hit-and-run accidents. There is a high concentration of shopping malls and medical facilities nearby, and the high rate of accidents suggests the need for improved safety measures and increased community awareness to reduce the associated risks.
Unlike its neighboring city of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas is not a tourist destination, but rather has a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial traffic. Several intersections in the area are served by major thoroughfares such as Craig Road, Martin Luther King Boulevard, and Lake Mead Boulevard, which serve as main routes for commuters and local businesses. Craig Road, in particular, runs through the northern part of the city and connects various residential, shopping and industrial areas, making it a very congested area. The most dangerous intersection in Nevada is also the most dangerous intersection in North Las Vegas, where West Craig Road meets North Commerce Street.
Reno's crash patterns reflect its unique geographic location as a major commercial center and gateway to Lake Tahoe and California. The most dangerous intersection is Keystone Avenue and West 4th Street, where there were 44 crashes and 36 injuries. Of these, two were hit-and-runs, two were drunk driving accidents, and one involved a pedestrian. This intersection is also the only one listed among the 50 most dangerous intersections in Nevada, ranking 48th.
Intersection Safety: Comparison by City
This section compares the accident rate per 1,000 people and the average risk index for each city, focusing specifically on the 10 most dangerous intersections over the past five years. Through this, we can determine the level of intersection risk relative to the size of each city.
Las Vegas has the highest number of intersection accidents in Nevada (33,746), with a rate of 50.7 accidents per 1,000 residents. Additionally, it has the highest average risk index among the top 10 intersections at 262.7. It is natural that the average risk index is high as the number of accidents occurs, but this also shows the tendency for accidents to be concentrated at certain intersections, making certain areas more dangerous than others.
On the other hand, Henderson's data shows that population size is not the only factor predicting accident rates and risks. Despite its larger population, Henderson has the lowest rate of any major city in Nevada, even lower than Reno's 6,746 accidents and 24.2 accident rate per 1,000 residents. These differences may be influenced by several factors. Examples include that Henderson is farther from major tourist attractions such as the Las Vegas Strip and Harry Reed International Airport, is predominantly residential, and has a newer and more well-planned road infrastructure than older urban areas such as Reno's Midtown or Downtown.
Meanwhile, North Las Vegas has far fewer intersection accidents (7,151) than Las Vegas (33,746), while the average risk index is 258.5, only 4.2 points different from Las Vegas. North Las Vegas in particular has the most dangerous intersection in Nevada, with a hazard index of 479. This suggests that some intersections in North Las Vegas may be as dangerous as or more dangerous than intersections in Las Vegas. It is very important to be extra careful and drive defensively in this heavily touristed area.
Reno had 6,746 intersection crashes, a crash rate of 24.2 per 1,000 residents and an average risk score of 125. Although these numbers are lower than those in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, they still show serious safety issues that city planners and traffic safety officials need to pay attention to.
Solving Nevada Intersection Problems
The most dangerous intersection in Nevada was found to be the intersection of North Commerce Street and West Craig Road in North Las Vegas. Las Vegas ranked the highest among the top 10 intersections for total number of accidents, accident rate per 1,000 population, and hazard index, but surprisingly, none of these hazards were located directly on the famous Las Vegas Strip.
Rather, the most dangerous intersection was found in North Las Vegas. In contrast, intersections in Henderson and Reno were found to be relatively safe, suggesting that factors such as traffic flow and urban planning play an important role in intersection safety.
To address these alarming crash statistics, Nevada has already taken several proactive steps. The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) installed roundabouts in place of existing intersections to reduce crash points.
Meanwhile, the city of Las Vegas is pursuing the ‘Vision Zero’ initiative, a European strategy that aims to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2050. By continuing to advance these initiatives and explore new strategies, Nevada will be able to significantly improve intersection safety across the state.
methodology
This analysis targeted 190,820 traffic accidents that occurred over five years from 2019 to 2023. Of these, 54,168 occurred at intersections. To identify the most dangerous intersections, 53,486 traffic accidents were analyzed in detail, taking into account various risk factors. Each risk factor was weighted to produce a final risk index. The remaining traffic accidents were excluded from the analysis due to missing data.
It is important to note that in some cases, differences in road name notation may affect the accuracy of intersection accident counts. These numbers are estimates and should be considered minimum values. Reference: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
This article is general information, not legal advice about your specific situation.