Indianapolis is a thriving metropolitan region with hundreds of surface streets and multiple busy interstates and freeways. The development of infrastructure has made the modern commute more accessible for individual workers and has helped the greater Indianapolis region thrive.
Unfortunately, not every street is as safe as people might expect. There is crash risk anywhere, but some areas have far more collisions than others and crashes with far worse consequences. Research into local collisions makes it clear that there are certain roads around Indianapolis that are riskier than others.
What streets see the most crashes and the worst collisions?
According to recent statements from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, 146th Street is the origin of more calls than any other specific road in the region. Many of these crashes occur at busy intersections. In fact, seven of the eight most common locations for crashes in the county were on 146th Street.
Another dangerous road is 38th Street. West 38th Street between Moller Road and I-465 has a high number of collisions. So does West 38th Street between Meridian Street and Boulevard Place. East 38th Street also makes the list, between Sherman Avenue and the State Fairgrounds.
Emerson Avenue is a high-risk thoroughfare. Its intersection with Thompson Road is problematic. Thompson Road also has several other intersections that have an elevated number of crashes. East Southport Road, I-465, including some of its ramps, and Allisonville Road are also among the most dangerous roads in the greater Indianapolis area.
Many of these streets are incredibly busy. Traffic congestion, driver distraction and visibility issues all contribute to the level of risk on specific roads. Certain maneuvers, like left-hand turns, can increase someone’s chances of a major wreck on these streets.
Obviously, it is not practical for Indianapolis drivers to simply avoid every street with a high speed limit or a high density of traffic. However, those who are aware of factors that contribute to their overall crash risk, including the frequency of severe collisions in an area, may be able to make safer choices.