Which Kentucky interstate is the most dangerous? Here's what one study determined
Drivers in the Louisville area are used to frequent accidents and traffic delays on I-64, I-65 and I-71, but these freeways don’t have anything on I-24, which passes through western parts of the bluegrass state.
Ranking No. 5 nationally as the most dangerous interstate, I-24 passes through parts of Kentucky, as well as Illinois, Tennessee and Georgia. And it's known to be deadly.
A recent study conducted by Assurance IQ, an insurance policy shopping platform, indicated the fifth most dangerous interstate nationally runs through parts of Kentucky. We’re talking I-24, with an average of 18.3 fatal crashes every 100 miles.
Where is I-24 located?
According to AARoads, “I-24 angles southeast from the Western Kentucky Parkway along a rural course toward Hopkinsville, passing to the south of the Christian County seat. The Edward T. Breathitt (Pennyrile) Parkway (future I-169) extends from Hopkinsville to tie into I-24 north of Fort Campbell and Oak Grove."
The fifth most dangerous freeway nationally, I-24, is primarily located in Tennessee. The number of miles the interstate stretches in Tennesee alone is greater than the combined interstate mileage in Illinois, Kentucky and Georgia. Beginning near Marion, Illinois, I-24 stretches through cities including Nashville and Chattanooga before concluding in a northern area of Georgia, Dade County.
I-24 is one of the shortest interstates in Georgia, with only two exits in the state and a span of less than five miles.
When was the Kentucky portion of I-24 built?
According to AARoads, the Kentucky interstate route was planned in 1958, with the first groundbreaking in Lyon County by December of 1967. The final segment of the freeway in the state was completed and opened by May of 1980.
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What other Kentucky freeways are considered dangerous?
According to Assurance IQ, the most dangerous freeway in the state of Kentucky is I-65, with an average of 1.53 fatal crashes per ten miles.
According to Interstate Guide, I-65 begins in Mobile, Alabama, and travels north to Gary, Indiana, slightly southeast of Chicago. Also passing through Kentucky, the freeway connects major areas like Louisville, Bowling Green and Elizabethtown.
How dangerous is it to drive in Kentucky?
Nationally, Kentucky is the No. 22 most dangerous state for driving, with 8.23 fatal crashes per 100 miles on average, according to Assurance IQ. Surrounding states are balanced in terms of dangerous driving, with some surpassing Kentucky and others trailing behind.
Nearby states are listed as follows
Tennessee: No. 8 with 12.61 fatal crashes per 100 miles.
Virginia: No. 12 with 10.19 fatal crashes per 100 miles.
Ohio: No. 26 with 6.88 fatal crashes per 100 miles.
Illinois: No. 27 with 6.64 fatal crashes per 100 miles.
Indiana: No. 28 with 5.90 fatal crashes per 100 miles.
West Virginia: No. 35 with 4.96 fatal crashes per 100 miles.
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What other freeways are considered dangerous nationally?
The top five most dangerous interstates include:
I-4: With an average of 34.0 fatal crashes per 100 miles, I-4, located solely in Florida, stretches over 130 miles, and connects major cities like Tampa, Orlando, and Daytona Beach.
I-35E: With 27.9 fatal crashes per 100 miles, I-35E is the eastern portion of I-35, connecting the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.
I-45: Connecting Texas cities from Galveston to Dallas, I-45 averages 24.6 fatal crashes per 100 miles.
I-30: Stretching from Arkansas to the Dallas Fort Worth area of Texas, I-30 sees 23.5 fatal crashes per 100 miles.
I-24: With 18.3 fatal crashes per 100 miles, I-24 connects parts of Kentucky, Tennessee and Illinois.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky interstate recognized nationally for danger, fatalities
