The Most Dangerous Intersections in Houston

Houston is one of America’s busiest cities. Every day, hundreds of thousands of vehicles travel in and around the city. Sadly, some of these drivers will not make it to their destinations. In 2018, the City of Houston reported 64,126 car crashes, 197 fatalities and 1,175 serious injuries. Many serious and fatal car accidents occur at intersections. Identifying Houston’s most dangerous intersections based on crash data could help you avoid a collision as a driver or pedestrian.

What Is So Dangerous About Intersections in Houston?

Intersections are where vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians traveling in different directions cross paths. Intersections have their own set of rules, called rights-of-way. All drivers must obey the rules of the intersection. They must stop at red lights or stop signs and yield the right-of-way to others at the intersection, when applicable. At a four-way stop, the driver that approached the intersection first has the right-of-way. At a traffic-controlled intersection, drivers must wait until they have green lights to proceed. Drivers making turns must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks at intersections, unless they have green arrows.

Intersections become dangerous when parties break the rules. Rolling through stop signs, running red lights, speeding and ignoring the right-of-way can all cause deadly intersection collisions. When one driver ignores the rules, he or she puts everyone else at the intersection at risk. A driver that breaks the rules is unpredictable and dangerous. Intersections accidents are often serious, as they can involve T-bone collisions, head-on collisions and pedestrian collisions. Paying attention to the road and obeying traffic laws can prevent intersection accidents in Houston.

Bissonnet and West Sam Houston Parkway

On Houston’s west side, the intersection of Bissonnet and West Sam Houston is the scene of the most intersection accidents in the city each year. From 2012 to 2015, this intersection saw 355 reported collisions. Many of these intersections accidents were serious, with 263 injuries. Another intersection at Sam Houston Parkway is the second most dangerous, at Hardy Road. This intersection saw 280 accidents over the three years. Sam Houston Parkway and Westheimer is the third most dangerous intersection with 233 reported wrecks in three years.

Main Street and South Loop

Another busy intersection with a high risk of collisions is Main Street and the South Loop West, near the Whataburger restaurant. This major intersection reported 206 traffic accidents from 2012 to 2015, or an average of about 67 collisions per year. Many of these accidents involved pedestrians and caused serious injuries. Distracted and careless drivers cause many of these collisions. Running red lights, for example, is a major cause of intersection collisions in Houston.

Beechnut and the Sam Houston Parkway

The Sam Houston Parkway makes the list yet again as the fifth most dangerous intersection in Houston, at Beechnut. This cross-section reported 189 traffic accidents in three years. The Sam Houston Parkway is such a dangerous stretch for drivers and pedestrians for many reasons, including distracted drivers, driving while intoxicated, drowsy driving, speeding and tailgating. Crashes at intersections along the Sam Houston Parkway take dozens of lives each year.

Greens Road and Interstate 45

Interstate 45 (I-45) is a major highway traveling down from Dallas to Houston. In Houston, the intersection of I-45 and Greens Road is an especially dangerous place for roadway users. This intersection had 176 traffic accidents, making it Houston’s sixth most dangerous cross-section. The state aims to make I-45 safer for travelers with a massive rebuild project, which will widen lanes and recreate Houston’s downtown freeway system.

Veterans Memorial Drive and the Sam Houston Parkway

Houston’s seventh most dangerous intersection once again involves the Sam Houston Parkway, for the final time on this list. From 2012 to 2015, crash data shows a total of 174 traffic accidents at the intersection of the Sam Houston Parkway and Veterans Memorial Drive. This is a major intersection with heavy foot and bicycle traffic, contributing to the number of annual collisions. As a driver or pedestrian, staying away from Houston’s most dangerous intersections could decrease your risk of getting into a traffic accident.