Most Dangerous Roads in Charlotte, NC
Though driving a car is generally a safe endeavor, that doesn’t mean you should play fast and loose behind the wheel. Wherever possible, you should avoid taking risks, such as driving on particularly dangerous roads.
However, that involves knowing which roadways are most likely to result in car accidents. And if you’re like most drivers, you likely haven’t done extensive research into the safety of Charlotte’s roads.
Thankfully, you don’t have to. The High Injury Network documents traffic-related data for Charlotte. And from those details, it is possible to determine which roads in Charlotte are the most dangerous. The following information will help you make smart decisions and find alternate routes around the city to ensure you have the best chance of avoiding an accident.
Why Charlotte Roads Are Dangerous
According to Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys, there are a variety of factors that can make a road dangerous. Two of these, in particular, have a large impact on Charlotte road safety: traffic and the road’s condition.
Certain roads see periods of high traffic, whether all the time or during specific periods. In the latter case, it can be helpful to know the exact times a specific street gets busy, as that implies it could be much safer at other moments. For example, if you avoid a notably crowded road during rush hour, you may significantly lower your chances of getting into an accident.
When it comes to road conditions, a shocking 33% of North Carolina’s major roads are in poor or mediocre shape, according to TRIP. Even more alarming is that the value increases to 44% in the city of Charlotte. When almost half the major roads are in subpar condition, accidents are especially likely to occur.
Charlotte’s Riskiest Roads
With the above factors in mind, the following roads are the ones you should avoid in Charlotte:
I-485 Inner
The inner ring of I-485 encircles Charlotte, which makes it a convenient route for those trying to get to many places around the city. Unfortunately, even though it is an offshoot of an interstate, 485’s primary purpose is to support local travel, which means that many drivers enter and exit the route regularly.
As a result, the right lane of I-485 is the most dangerous. Some cars in the lane are traveling at highway speeds while other vehicles are moving more slowly. And that’s a common recipe for accidents. Additionally, the interstate’s most dangerous exits include Old Gum Branch Road and Nations Ford Road.
North Tryon Street
Also known as State Route 29, North Tryon Street is one of the most important thoroughfares in all of Charlotte. It runs through the heart of the city and offers one of the most direct routes to University City.
Unfortunately, it is those factors that also make North Tryon one of the most dangerous streets in the area. Much of it has street parking on both sides, which makes the street surprisingly narrow during most parts of the day. On top of that, it also experiences a sizable amount of pedestrian traffic.
You should be particularly wary of two intersections that North Tryon Street runs through. The first is with University Pointe Boulevard, which is located near a popular shopping area. As you might expect, it tends to be crowded on weekends and during early evening hours.
You should also take care near the intersection with West Trade Street, which is situated near Bank of America Stadium and the Charlotte Convention Center. Most weekends, it is practically a parking lot. And though accidents in bumper-to-bumper traffic aren’t usually too serious, one will put a significant damper on your day.
West Sugar Creek Road
West Sugar Creek runs through a mixed-use commercial and residential area. Accordingly, the sites where the road switches between commercial zones and residential zones are usually dangerous. Drivers may not notice sudden changes in speed limits or expect increased traffic entering the road.
Like North Tryon Street, two intersections include West Sugar Creek Road and are particularly dangerous. The first is its intersection with Interstate 85, which has three lanes that run in separate directions and have high speed limits. The interchange has limited markings and can be frustratingly confusing for drivers, resulting in accidents.
The other dangerous intersection is located at Hubbard Road. Surprisingly, it acts as a complete inverse of the first. By the time West Sugar Creek Road meets with Hubbard, the former has dropped down to one lane in each direction. It also curves and has reduced visibility, and with only a stop sign on Hubbard, there is no light to control the intersection.
The good news is that, unlike some of the previous roads, West Sugar Creek Road is relatively easy to avoid, as several other roads in the area travel along similar paths. If you want to get onto I-85, entering at North Graham Street or via State Route 24 is much safer.
The Intersection At Sunset, Miranda, Oakdale, and Lawing
One of the most frightening places to drive in Charlotte isn’t even a single road itself, but instead an intersection of four roads. You would think that an intersection of such complexity would have a traffic light, but it is only controlled by stop signs. Oakdale Road isn’t even controlled by a stop sign at all.
Additionally, visibility is partially blocked for several reasons. Between trees, minor hills, and curves in the road, it can be very hard for someone waiting at a stop sign to look down every avenue that meets here.
Perhaps the worst aspect of the intersection is that it is almost impossible to avoid. There are virtually no alternate routes in the area, and all but one of the four routes connects to a smaller road.
Be that as it may, you can still avoid the worst effects of the intersection if you are traveling on Lawing Road. Instead of traveling north to the intersection, you can travel south to Kelly Road and use that to get to Oakdale. Depending on which way you’re going, doing so can avoid the intersection completely or help you avoid having to deal with stop signs.
Protect Yourself On Charlotte Roads
Several roads and intersections in Charlotte are dangerous. If you take the reasons why into account while traveling, you can reduce your risk of getting into a car accident at any point throughout the day and no matter where in Charlotte you choose to drive.