CNN List of 'most dangerous' intersections released

June 27, 2001 Posted: 9:38 AM EDT (1338 GMT)

BLOOMINGTON, Illinois (CNN) -- Pembroke Pines, Florida, has the most dangerous intersection in the United States, while Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has two of the top three, according to an insurance company study released Wednesday.

State Farm Insurance ranked the worst intersections in the United States based on accident claims from January 1999 through December 2000. Factors in the rankings include the number of accidents and injuries.

None of the communities in the analysis ranked in the top 10 of the previous study, which looked at accidents from 1998.

The worst intersection -- Flamingo Road and Pines Boulevard -- is in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The number of accidents at that intersection over the two-year period of the study was 357.

The second most dangerous is in the northeast section of Philadelphia at Red Lion Road and Roosevelt Boulevard. There were 331 accidents at that intersection. The third is a nearby intersection, Grant Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, where 261 accidents occurred.

Here are the others:

-- Phoenix, Arizona, 7th Street and Bell Road, 268 accidents.

-- Tulsa, Oklahoma, 51st Street and Memorial Drive, 304 accidents.

-- Tulsa, Oklahoma, 71st Street and Memorial Drive, 245 accidents.

-- Phoenix, Arizona, 19th Avenue and Northern Avenue, 255 accidents.

-- Frisco, Texas, State Highway 121 and Preston Road, 280 accidents.

-- Metairie, Louisiana, Clearview Parkway and Veterans Memorial Boulevard, 328 accidents.

-- Sacramento, California, Fair Oaks Boulevard and Howe Avenue, 246 accidents.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2001

Answers

I was listening to this report on radio while at work last night. Our NBC affliate here in Miami also broadcasts on FM.

Happy to say I don't live near that intersection. In my area we have what is called the 'bus-way.' this is a two lane road that parallels US1, otherwise known as Useless 1.

Each intersection along this route has right turn signals for the southbound side, and red lights for left turns on the northbound side.

We have experienced many crashes along this stretch of road due to the drivers not paying attention to the lights, which are not hard to see at all, if you look. Some deaths have occurred because of this set up, one was a cop who was using the bus-way instead of the public roads, I think to respond to a call.

The bus-way is open to 'offical county traffic; buses, emergency response vehicles, and maintenance vehicles working on that road or the landscaping there.

The lights are set up to turn green when a bus approaches so they don't have to stop, unless of course the US1 traffic control lights are operating for cross-traffic. the bus-stops are just after each intersection, respective of direction. [i.e northbound on the north side of the intersection.]

There are nine intersections on this stretch that are immediately adjacent to US1, and the rest to the south are separated from US1 by a block or so.

There is also a 'bike path' alongside the bus-way, but I don't recall hearing of any cyclists being hit.

The bus-way used to be a train track, but the land was sold to the county for the bus-way, even though most residents hoped the 'metrofail' would be extended, possibly as far as Homestead. right now, the bus-way only goes as far as Cutler Ridge, and originates at the south-end of the 'metrofail.' The train track used to go all the way to the keys, through Homestead, right alongside US1.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2001