Most Dangerous Roads in Kansas for Cars and Motorcycles

Practicing safe driving is vital for every driver, but even the most cautious driver can encounter trouble on certain roads. As with any state, Kansas is home to a number of dangerous roads and highways, and it’s essential for drivers of all types of vehicles to be aware of these roads and stay vigilant while traveling on them. If you live in the Sunflower State or plan on visiting, here are some of the most dangerous roads in Kansas for cars and motorcycles you need to watch out for.

Were you seriously injured in a car or motorcycle accident in Kansas? You need legal help from a law firm that has been serving Kansas since January 1980. Contact Palmer Law Group at (785) 233-1836 today to discuss your case with one of our experienced car accident lawyers.

I-70

The road that sees the most fatal car accidents in Kansas per year is an interstate. This doesn’t mean that it has the most accidents per mile; instead, it means that the road has a high number of car accidents reflective of the millions of drivers who travel on it at high speeds every year. According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, which is operated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 13 fatal accidents on I-70 in 2020 alone, resulting in 17 fatalities.

US-24 and US-54

Two highways — US-24 and US-54 — are essentially tied for second place. There were 10 fatal crashes on both highways in 2020, according to the NHTSA data. Those crashes resulted in 12 and 11 fatalities, respectively. These are surprisingly dissimilar highways to share such similar statistics. US-24 is located near Kansas City, which means that it sees a significant amount of traffic from people driving to and from work. Conversely, US-54 is in a much less traveled portion of the state. It does go to Wichita, but it has significantly different traffic patterns than US-24.

I-35

I-70 is a highly traveled interstate primarily because it travels from Denver through Kansas City to St. Louis. Conversely, I-35 travels north-south through Kansas City. It eventually reaches Minneapolis and Dallas, but the distances are quite substantial. This makes it a less traveled route and subsequently results in fewer accidents.

There were roughly half as many fatal accidents on I-35 in 2020 as there were on I-70. However, this may also be related to the fact that I-35 has several offshoot highways. When you add in the fatal crashes on I-435 and I-135, for example, this interstate becomes at least as deadly as I-70 — if not more.

SR-15

Comparatively, SR-15 may seem like a reasonably safe road. It averages roughly five fatal accidents a year, which is a fraction of the fatalities of some of the other highways. However, it also sees a lot less traffic than many other roads do. SR-15 is a small state highway that runs north and south, starting near Wichita and continuing to the northern border. Except for Wichita, there are no major cities near this road, and it sees only a portion of the traffic of the other routes. This makes SR-15 more dangerous per mile driven than I-70, US-24, US-54, or I-35.

Rural Roads

So how safe should you feel from car and motorcycle accidents in Kansas? According to one study, Kansas roads are the fourth safest of any state in the U.S. However, that statistic may not reflect the risk level of all types of roads in the Sunflower State.

Roads in urban areas and on highways are typically quite safe in Kansas. Unfortunately, rural roads may not boast this same record. In fact, rural roads in Kansas rank among the top 10 deadliest roads in the country — nearly three times as dangerous as interstates. This means that you should try to avoid rural roads when possible while driving through Kansas.

This can be challenging, depending on where you want to go. Large portions of the state are rural areas that are only served by rural roads. In particular, there are no interstates that run anywhere near Dodge City. You will have to travel on smaller, rural roads for almost two hours if you want to go there by most routes.

How to Avoid Getting an Accident on the Most Dangerous Kansas Roads

While the interstates have a fair amount of accidents compared to other roads in the state, the number of accidents per mile driven on interstates is quite low. This means that whenever possible, you may want to travel by interstate. If you want to further decrease your chances of getting into an accident, avoid driving on the interstate when you are fatigued or at night, when other drivers are more likely to be fatigued.

Still, much of Kansas is not accessible by interstate. When you do have to use other roads, generally, the larger the road, the safer it may be. Roads with “US” designations will typically be safer than roads with “SR” or “KS” designations.

The most dangerous roads in Kansas are often small rural roads, especially if they are poorly maintained or not paved. If you need to travel on these types of roads, try to only travel on them during the day, and stay below the posted speed limit. Avoid blind turns, and slow down if you can do so safely. It is better to get to where you are going a few minutes later than you planned if it means avoiding an accident.

Talk to Palmer Law Group as Soon as Possible After an Accident

Car crashes can happen on any road, in any state. However, taking appropriate precautions and avoiding the most dangerous roads in Kansas whenever possible can help you avoid serious injuries. If you do suffer an accident, a seasoned attorney at Palmer Law Group may be able to help you get compensation to cover your losses.

The skilled team at Palmer Law Group knows what you face after getting injured in a Kansas car accident. Contact our law firm at (785) 233-1836 immediately to schedule your free consultation and find out how we can help you protect your future.