Baton Rouge is one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the state. Therefore, it has some of the busiest roads and intersections in Louisiana. There are hundreds of crashes reported in the area annually with many injuries and fatalities. Drivers should generally pay close attention to their surroundings regardless of where they are. However, location absolutely influences the likelihood of a collision occurring.
A large percentage of collisions every year occur at intersections. When vehicles moving in different directions cross paths, there are many opportunities for things to go wrong. Some intersections are statistically more dangerous than others. Where do drivers face the greatest risk of a wreck?
Busier intersections are more dangerous
Streets with higher speed limits and more traffic often have particularly dangerous intersections. According to an analysis of crash data, the five most dangerous intersections in Baton Rouge include:
- Airline Highway and Florida Boulevard
- Bluebonnet Boulevard and Perkins Road
- Florida Boulevard and Sherwood Forest Boulevard
- Florida Boulevard and College Drive
- Perkins Road and Essen Lane
Several of the same roads appear multiple times on the list because factors including traffic density, speed limits and road design influence the risk of a wreck. There are a few other intersections that also see higher-than-average crash risk.
Plank Road’s intersections with Mohican Street and Hollywood Street are both notorious. The intersection of Jefferson Highway and College Road and where Washington Street crosses Braddock Street are also known to be dangerous locations.
How can drivers optimize their safety?
One of the best options for avoiding a collision at a dangerous intersection is to plan a route that bypasses these dangerous crossroads. Of course, staying off of the busiest roads and consistently avoiding the most traveled intersections isn’t always practical.
When drivers do have to drive through busy intersections, they should approach them defensively. Defensive driving techniques encourage motorists to view others as a potential source of risk. They may want to assume that others cannot see them and are unlikely to make the safest choice possible.
At an intersection, that might mean yielding the right of way to another motorist due to uncertainty about their intentions. An extra second of pause could be the difference between getting home safely and spending two hours waiting for a police officer to take a crash report.
When collisions occur, those involved need to assert themselves and ensure that police officers have accurate information about what caused the crash. Pursuing compensation after an intersection car wreck is easier when drivers can show that another party was to blame.