The Deadliest Highway Stretches in Kansas City, MO

Ryan Bradley | May 3, 2023 | Car Accident

Kansas City, Missouri, is home to over 500,000 people, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. The city is nearly twice as populous as St. Louis, making Kansas City the largest city in the state. 

The city is served by several interstates and state highways, including I-35, I-70, and US Highway 71. With a city as large and containing as many roads as Kansas City, car accidents are an unfortunate reality. For drivers in Kansas City, learning which highways tend to see the most accidents is essential.

Locations of Highway Accidents in Kansas City

There are many factors you consider when you travel, whether for your daily commute or for a trip out of town. For any travel purpose, safety is likely a top priority. However, with so many roads and highways in Kansas City, it can be difficult to know where to start in choosing the safest roads to travel.

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety (MCRS) has created several Traffic Crash and Highway Safety dashboards that show where fatal collisions are happening in Kansas City and throughout Missouri. According to these dashboards, the following highways have some of the greatest risks for highway crashes in Kansas City:

Interstate 70

It should not be any surprise that a major thoroughfare like I-70 sees a number of fatal traffic crashes. During 2021, there were two fatal crashes attributable to impaired drivers that occurred on I-70, just inside of the I-435 interchange, and several more that occurred farther east near I-70. 

That same year, four other fatal collisions happened along I-70 where one or more occupants were unbelted. These crashes all took place starting at the I-70/I-435 interchange and heading west toward the Missouri-Kansas state line. There were also five motorcycle and bicycle fatalities that took place along I-70.

Interstate 35, South of I-70

Starting at the interchange between I-35 and heading south until the highway turns west, there were six fatal traffic crashes in 2021. These accidents included both impaired-driver crashes and unbelted-occupant crashes, and the wrecks took place on the highway itself and on roadways adjacent to or nearby the highway.

Highway 71, North of the I-435 Interchange

Heading south from downtown Kansas City, there were at least two fatal traffic collisions in 2021 alone. This statistic may not seem significant, but when you consider the location of these accidents, you can understand the importance.

These accidents happened a farther distance from the downtown area of Kansas City compared to other fatal crashes. This suggests that there is a risk of getting into a fatal accident in Kansas City, even on roads that are less congested.

Missouri’s Fatal Accident Statistics in Context

Overall, according to the MCRS, there were approximately 1,000 fatal crashes throughout Missouri in 2021. Of those accidents, 117 happened in Kansas City or Jackson County areas.

By using the accident statistics for individual highways, it can be gathered that over 10% of all fatal traffic crashes that happened in Jackson County in 2021 took place on I-70, I-35, or Highway 71.

How to Stay Safe on Kansas City Highways

On every road or highway, you can increase your safety by practicing safe driving habits. These habits include putting away distractions like your cell phone and not driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. You should also avoid speeding and slow down during inclement weather and times of congestion. 

Above all, it’s essential that you and your passengers wear seat belts at all times. Numerous fatalities in Kansas City happened because individuals were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the collision. Wearing your seat belt can protect you from serious injury or death, no matter which road you choose to travel.

Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm For Help Today

For more information, please contact Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers at your nearest location to schedule a free case evaluation today.

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