Every Phoenix driver has a stretch of road they brace for. Maybe it is the merge where I-10 and I-17 traffic tangles, or a wide west-side intersection where left-turners gamble against oncoming traffic. That instinct is worth trusting, because collisions are not spread evenly across the Valley. They cluster.
Knowing where crashes concentrate helps you drive defensively in the right places. And if you are ever hit at one of these locations, understanding why the spot is dangerous can actually matter to your injury claim.
This page covers the Phoenix-area intersections with the most collisions, the Valley’s high-crash freeway corridors, practical safety tips, and what to do if a crash happens to you at one of these hotspots.
The Phoenix-Area Intersections With the Most Collisions
Maricopa County collision data from 2018 through 2022 identified several intersections that saw more crashes than almost anywhere else in the region. Five of the worst are:
- 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road
- 67th Avenue and Indian School Road
- 67th Avenue and McDowell Road
- 27th Avenue and Camelback Road
- 83rd Avenue and Indian School Road
Notice a pattern? Most of these sit on the west side of the Valley, along wide, high-volume arterial streets, and Indian School Road appears twice. If these intersections are part of your daily routine, you are not doomed to crash there. But you are driving through spots where collisions happen again and again, and extra caution goes a long way.
Why These Intersections See So Many Crashes
No two crashes are identical, but high-collision intersections tend to share common ingredients.
Heavy traffic volume. These are major arterial crossings that move enormous numbers of vehicles every day. More vehicles passing through the same conflict points simply means more chances for a mistake to become a collision.
Wide, fast arterials. Phoenix’s grid is built on broad streets with multiple lanes and higher speeds than many cities. Wide intersections take longer to clear, which stretches the window in which a red-light runner or hurried left-turner can find you.
Left turns across oncoming traffic. A driver misjudges the speed of oncoming traffic or tries to beat the light, and a broadside crash follows. These impacts strike the side of the vehicle, where there is less structure to protect you, so injuries are often serious.
Red-light running. On long commutes across the Valley, some drivers treat yellow lights as a challenge. At a wide intersection, a car entering late meets cross traffic that has already started moving.
Sun glare, pedestrians, and driveways. East-west streets like Indian School, McDowell, and Camelback face blinding sun at dawn and dusk. Add pedestrians, bus stops, and busy commercial driveways near the corners, and drivers have many things to track at once.
Hurt in a crash? Get matched with a trusted car accident attorney. Accident Direct connects you with a vetted local lawyer for a free, no-obligation case review. You pay nothing unless you win. Call 1-800-123-4567 or start your free case review →
The Valley’s High-Crash Freeway Corridors
Intersections are not the whole story. Several freeway corridors in the Phoenix area also see heavy concentrations of crashes: I-10, I-17, US-60, and Loop 101.
These are the workhorse routes of the Valley. I-10 carries cross-country traffic and daily commuters through the heart of the city. I-17 funnels drivers north toward the high country and back. US-60 links the East Valley to central Phoenix, and Loop 101 wraps around the metro area connecting nearly everything else.
Freeway crashes have their own character. Speeds are much higher, so the forces involved are far greater. Sudden slowdowns create chain-reaction and rear-end collisions, dense merging at interchanges forces rapid lane changes, and construction zones and disabled vehicles add to the mix. When traffic is flowing fast, a single distracted glance can close the gap to the car ahead before you can react.
One practical note for later: crashes on these freeways are usually investigated by the Arizona Department of Public Safety rather than the Phoenix Police Department. That matters when you request your crash report.
Safety Tips for Phoenix Hotspots
You cannot avoid every dangerous road, but you can change how you drive through them.
- Pause at green lights. Glance both ways before entering a big intersection. Red-light runners arrive in the first seconds.
- Be patient on left turns. If you are not sure you can make it, wait for the next gap. A saved minute is not worth a broadside crash.
- Leave real following distance on freeways. At speed on I-10 or Loop 101, tailgating leaves no time to react to a sudden slowdown.
- Mind the sun. On east-west arterials at sunrise and sunset, use your visor, slow slightly, and assume other drivers cannot see well either.
- Watch for pedestrians and cyclists near bus stops and shopping centers, especially after dark.
- Buckle up, every trip. Seat belts are your best protection in exactly the high-speed crashes these corridors produce.
If You Crash at a Dangerous Intersection or Corridor
If a collision happens at one of these locations, the basics still apply, with a few location-specific points.
First, protect yourself from secondary crashes. Move your vehicle out of travel lanes if it is drivable, turn on your hazards, and get behind a barrier or well away from traffic while you wait for help. Phoenix heat is dangerous too, so find shade or air conditioning if you can do so safely.
Call 911. On city streets, Phoenix Police will typically respond; on I-10, I-17, US-60, or Loop 101, expect DPS. Either way, an official crash report gets created, and you will want a copy.
Then document the location itself, not just the vehicles. Photograph the signals, lane markings, turn arrows, signs, skid marks, and sight lines. Note the exact intersection or the freeway, direction of travel, and nearest exit or milepost. Get witness names and numbers before they drive off.
Why Location Evidence Matters for Fault
In a disputed crash, the intersection itself often becomes evidence. Fault frequently turns on questions the location can answer: Who had the green? Was the left-turn arrow protected? Where did the impact happen within the intersection? How far did the vehicles travel afterward?
Signal timing records, traffic camera or nearby business footage, skid marks, and the final resting positions of the vehicles all help reconstruct what happened. A crash history at a known high-collision intersection can add context, and in some cases a dangerous road design or malfunctioning signal may make a government entity partly responsible. That possibility comes with a catch: claims against a city, county, or the state in Arizona require a formal Notice of Claim within 180 days, far sooner than the general two-year deadline.
Arizona’s pure comparative negligence rule raises the stakes further. Because your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, insurers work hard to shift blame at ambiguous intersection crashes. Strong location evidence, gathered early, is how you push back, and an experienced local attorney knows what to preserve and how to use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most dangerous intersections in Phoenix?
Maricopa County data from 2018 to 2022 identified 99th Avenue & Lower Buckeye Road, 67th Avenue & Indian School Road, 67th Avenue & McDowell Road, 27th Avenue & Camelback Road, and 83rd Avenue & Indian School Road among the intersections with the most collisions.
Which Phoenix freeways see the most crashes?
High-crash corridors in the Valley include I-10, I-17, US-60, and Loop 101, the region’s busiest commuter routes.
Does it matter for my claim that I crashed at a known dangerous intersection?
It can. Location evidence like signal timing, camera footage, and skid marks often decides disputed fault, and a documented crash history can add context. If road design or a signal problem contributed, a government entity may share responsibility, which triggers a short 180-day notice deadline.
Who investigates freeway crashes in Phoenix?
Crashes on freeways such as I-10, I-17, US-60, and Loop 101 are usually handled by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, while Phoenix Police cover city streets. Request your report from the agency that responded.
Get Connected With a Trusted Car Accident Attorney
Crashes at busy intersections and freeway corridors often involve disputed fault, and the evidence that decides them disappears fast. Accident Direct connects you with a vetted Phoenix attorney who knows these roads, for a free case review with no fee unless you win. Call 1-800-123-4567 or start your free case review →
Related Reading
- What to Do After a Car Accident in Phoenix
- Phoenix Car Accident Statistics
- How to Get Your Phoenix Police Accident Report
- Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer: How to Find the Right Attorney
This article is for general information only and is not legal or medical advice. Every case is different. For advice about your situation, speak with a licensed attorney.