We need to have a serious talk about drivers uptown.
According to the data released by the city of Charlotte, North College Street is the most dangerous stretch of road in the city. And about a quarter of the 83 most dangerous intersections in all of Charlotte are in or around the center city.
Yes, the frequent construction and road closures can rattle commuters and force them to find new routes. But there is also plenty of inattentive driving, city data shows.
There’s little being done to fix the intersections on the list. Only 17 of them have any work in progress or recently completed. Only four are considering a wholesale change to the intersection. Most of the time, the “fix” is to put backplates on the stop light to make them more visible.
The list is sorted by crash rate, meaning that a less-busy road can appear higher in the list if it has a disproportionate number of crashes.
The list
No. 1: N College St & E 8th St
Accidents since 2012: 19. Average daily traffic: 6,100. Crash rate: 2.84
This intersection is awful. It comes right after a string of stoplights, so drivers are impatient and picking up speed. The cross street of 8th is pretty well hidden and there isn’t great visibility for either side. There’s also a decent bit of pedestrian traffic due to the parking lots nearby. I was out there between five and 10 minutes reporting this story and saw three near accidents in that span.
No. 2: S Church St & W Hill St
Accidents since 2012: 31. Average daily traffic: 10,600. Crash rate: 2.67
This is the one where Cam Newton had his roll-over accident that left him with a broken back. The city then went and put a bigger stop sign from Hill Street. Doesn’t mean people always stop.
No. 3: N College St & E 9th St
Accidents since 2012: 22. Average daily traffic: 7,600. Crash rate: 2.64
This one is a little odd because 9th Street is slightly off-set. There’s a county services building near here so there’s a good bit of traffic. There’s a no turn on red sign. I saw a woman get honked at while trying to turn right by a car turning left?
No. 4: N College St & E 12th St
Accidents since 2012: 21. Average daily traffic: 7,800. Crash rate: 2.46
The road is divided by a median, and there’s a confusing requirement to bear left to stay on the correct road, or else you run into a dead end pretty quickly.
No. 5: E 7th St & N College St
Accidents since 2012: 38. Average daily traffic: 14,400. Crash rate: 2.41
This is one of the first two-way cross streets on College as you head north. It’s very hard to see if you’re on 7th heading from the market trying to turn right on red.
No. 6: N Kings Dr & E 4th St/3rd St connector
Accidents since 2012: 112. Average daily traffic: 45,400. Crash rate: 2.25
This is the terrible situation when you’re coming in from the left and forced to get across four or five lanes of traffic for an immediate merge onto I-277.
No. 7: E Sugar Creek Rd & N Tryon St
Accidents since 2012: 145. Average daily traffic: 64,000. Crash rate: 2.07
People don’t do well with double left turn lanes, you’ll find out on this map.
No. 8: N McDowell St & E 6th St
Accidents since 2012: 41. Average daily traffic: 18,300. Crash rate: 2.05
A lot of one-way and “Do Not Enter” signs because of the off-ramp from the inner belt.
No. 9: Lakeview Rd & Old Statesville Rd
Accidents since 2012: 32. Average daily traffic: 14,700. Crash rate: 1.99
This one absolutely needs a traffic light. The city says they’re waiting on the money.
No. 10: Harrisburg Rd & Cambridge Commons Dr
Accidents since 2012: 31. Average daily traffic: 14,600. Crash rate: 1.94
This is now a roundabout so we’ll see if that makes things better or worse.
No. 11: JW Clay Blvd & Doug Mayes Pl
Accidents since 2012: 25. Average daily traffic: 11,800. Crash rate: 1.93
A three-way intersection with no signal where people are trying to run in to go shopping.
No. 12: W Sugar Creek Rd & Reagan Dr
Accidents since 2012: 106. Average daily traffic: 51,000. Crash rate: 1.90
One of the busiest intersections on the list. People come to this McDonald’s from I-85 all the time.
No. 13: N Tryon St & University City Bv
Accidents since 2012: 127. Average daily traffic: 61,400. Crash rate: 1.89
This one wasn’t on the most-dangerous list last year. Construction has made it stressful. There are also separate curved right-turn lanes that appear to have yield signs.
No. 14: Camden Rd & S Tryon St
Accidents since 2012: 31. Average daily traffic: 15,200. Crash rate: 1.86
You know this one if you’ve been to South End.
No. 15: Beatties Ford Rd & LaSalle St
Accidents since 2012: 58. Average daily traffic: 28,800. Crash rate: 1.84
A lot of retail here and close to West Charlotte High and University Park Creative Arts School. This is close to where several students were struck in a period of two weeks last year.
No. 16: Kenilworth Ave & Charlottetowne Ave
Accidents since 2012: 88. Average daily traffic: 43,800. Crash rate: 1.83
Another I-277 off-ramp situation and a left turn onto Charlottetowne Avenue that dares drivers to gamble.
No. 17: N College St & E 11th St
Accidents since 2012: 48. Average daily traffic: 24,000. Crash rate: 1.83.
No. 18: Miranda Rd & Lawing Rd
Accidents since 2012: 22. Average daily traffic: 11,400. Crash rate: 1.76
A five-way intersection with no signal, just a stop sign.
No. 19: N Davidson St & E 12th St
Accidents since 2012: 43. Average daily traffic: 22,300. Crash rate: 1.76
This is the one where if you’re trying to get to NoDa from I-277, you come in on the left and have to make that right turn really quickly.
No. 20: E 4th St & S Caldwell St
Accidents since 2012: 45. Average daily traffic: 23,400. Crash rate: 1.76
Caldwell is another dangerous one. Three intersections in a row make this list.
No. 21: Ashley Rd & Freedom Dr
Crashes since 2012: 78. Average daily traffic: 40,900. Crash rate: 1.74
Double left turn and a ton of restaurants and retail.
No. 22: Nations Ford Rd & E Arrowood Rd
Accidents since 2012: 48. Average daily traffic: 25,200. Crash rate: 1.74
There’s apparently an intersection improvement project in the works here.
No. 23: W 5th St & N Church St
Accidents since 2012: 32. Average daily traffic: 16,800. Crash rate: 1.74
No. 24: N Davidson St & E 11th St
Accidents since 2012: 38. Average daily traffic: 20,100. Crash rate: 1.73
No. 25: Albemarle Rd & N Sharon Amity Rd
Accidents since 2012: 129. Average daily traffic: 70,200. Crash rate: 1.68
No. 26: Statesville Ave & Atando Ave
Accidents since 2012: 57. Average daily traffic: 31,300. Crash rate: 1.66
No. 27: Albemarle Rd & Farm Pond Ln
Accidents since 2012: 101. Average daily traffic: 56,100. Crash rate: 1.64.
No. 28: N Tryon St & Salome Church Rd
Accidents since 2012: 52. Average daily traffic: 29,000. Crash rate: 1.64
No. 29: E Mallard Creek Church Rd & N Tryon St
Accidents since 2012: 99. Average daily traffic: 57,100. Crash rate: 1.58
No. 30: E 7th St & Hawthorne Ln
Accidents since 2012: 52. Average daily traffic: 30,000. Crash rate: 1.58
No. 31: I-77 N Ramp & W Trade St
Accidents since 2012: 36. Average daily traffic: 20,800. Crash rate: 1.58
No. 32: E W.T. Harris Blvd & W W T. Harris Blvd & N Tryon St
Accidents since 2012: 127. Average daily traffic: 73,800. Crash rate: 1.57
No. 33: Reagan Dr & Tom Hunter Rd
Accidents since 2012: 16. Average daily traffic: 9,300. Crash rate: 1.57
No. 34: E W.T. Harris Bv & Lawyers Rd
Accidents since 2012: 32. Average daily traffic: 18,700. Crash rate: 1.56
No. 35: N Graham St & Dalton Ave
Accidents since 2012: 33. Average daily traffic: 19,300. Crash rate: 1.56.
No. 36: Eastway Dr & Central Ave
Accidents since 2012: 90. Average daily traffic: 53,100. Crash rate: 1.55
No. 37: E W.T. Harris Bv & Hickory Grove Rd
Accidents since 2012: 88. Average daily traffic: 52,100. Crash rate: 1.54
No. 38: I-77 N Ramp to Clanton Road
Accidents since 2012: 35. Average daily traffic: 20,800. Crash rate: 1.54
No. 39: I-485 Ramp & South Bv
Accidents since 2012: 73. Average daily traffic: 43,400. Crash rate: 1.54
No. 40: W 3rd St & S Church St
Accidents since 2012: 21. Average daily traffic: 12,500. Crash rate: 1.53
No. 41: N Sharon Amity Rd & Milton Rd
Accidents since 2012: 53. Average daily traffic: 31,600. Crash rate: 1.53
No. 42: N Shopping Center Dr & N Tryon St
Accidents since 2012: 59. Average daily traffic: 35,200. Crash rate: 1.53
No. 43: N Sharon Amity Rd & Central Ave
Accidents since 2012: 106. Average daily traffic: 63,400. Crash rate: 1.53
No. 44: Billy Graham Pkwy & Morris Field Dr
Accidents since 2012: 80. Average daily traffic: 47,900. Crash rate: 1.53
No. 45: The Plaza & Plaza Walk Dr
Accidents since 2012: 43. Average daily traffic: 26,100. Crash rate: 1.50
The N.C. Department of Transportation is in the bidding phase of a project here.
No. 46: Pineville-Matthews Rd & Providence Rd
Accidents since 2012: 114. Average daily traffic; 69,200. Crash rate: 1.5
No. 47: McCullough Dr & JW Clay Blvd
Crashes since 2012: 113. Average daily traffic: 68,700. Crash rate: 1.50
No. 48: E Independence Blvd & Idlewild Rd
Accidents since 2012: 130. Average daily traffic: 79,400. Crash rate: 1.50
The busiest intersection on the list.
No. 49: N Caldwell St & E Trade St
Accidents since 2012: 32. Average daily traffic: 20,000. Crash rate: 1.46
No. 50: E 3rd St & S Caldwell St
Accidents since 2012: 32. Average daily traffic: 20,200. Crash rate: 1.45
No. 51: Lakeview Rd & Statesville Rd
Accidents since 2012: 19. Average daily traffic: 12,000. Crash rate: 1.45
Not to be confused with Lakeview and Old Statesville, which was earlier in the list. This one also desperately needs a traffic signal. City officials say it’s under evaluation.
No. 52: Eastway Dr & The Plaza
Accidents since 2012: 82. Average daily traffic: 51,900. Crash rate: 1.44
No. 53: E Stonewall St & S College St
Accidents since 2012: 36. Average daily traffic: 22,800. Crash rate: 1.44
This kicks off the College Street fun.
No. 54: I-485 Ramp & Mount Holly Rd
Accidents since 2012: 26. Average daily traffic: 16,600. Crash rate: 1.43
No. 55: N I-85 Ramp & W Mallard Creek Church Rd
Accidents since 2012: 62. Average daily traffic: 40,000. Crash rate: 1.42
They just put in a new signal here in 2014 so we’ll see what happens.
No. 56: Old Concord Rd & Suther Rd
Accidents since 2012: 31. Average daily traffic: 20,000. Crash rate: 1.42
This is a three-way intersection leading into a residential area.
No. 57: Billy Graham Pkwy & S Tryon St
Accidents since 2012: 99. Average daily traffic: 64,200. Crash rate: 1.41
Impatient airport travelers and people going from high speeds down to 35 mph in a hurry.
No. 58: E W.T. Harris Blvd & Albemarle Rd
Accidents since 2012: 112. Average daily traffic: 73,800. Crash rate: 1.39
No. 59: Camp Greene St & Freedom Dr
Accidents since 2012: 48. Average daily traffic: 31,800. Crash rate: 1.38
No. 60: Back Creek Church Rd & Pavilion Blvd
Accidents since 2012: 90. Average daily traffic: 60,100. Crash rate: 1.37
Really close to PNC Music Pavilion.
No. 61: Back Creek Church Rd & Rocky River Rd
Accidents since 2012: 20. Average daily traffic: 13,600. Crash rate: 1.34
Three-way intersection with poor visibility.
No. 62: Lancaster Highway & Providence Road West
Accidents since 2012: 28. Average daily traffic: 19,300. Crash rate: 1.32
Weird angles and new development here.
No. 63: N Davidson St & E Sugar Creek Rd
Accidents since 2012: 34. Average daily traffic: 23,500. Crash rate: 1.32
No traffic light here and a lot of cars.
No. 64: East Blvd & Camden Rd
Accidents since 2012: 25. Average daily traffic: 17,400. Crash rate: 1.31
The light rail runs right in the middle of this intersection. Plus there’s new apartment construction here.
No. 65: Milton Rd & Barrington Dr
Accidents since 2012: 26. Average daily traffic: 18,200. Crash rate: 1.30
A spatially very large intersection with only stop signs on the cross street. This one really should have a light.
No. 66: The Plaza & E Sugar Creek Rd
Accidents since 2012: 64. Average daily traffic: 44,800. Crash rate: 1.30
No. 67: E W.T. Harris Blvd & Idlewild Rd
Accidents since 2012: 65. Average daily traffic: 45,500. Crash rate: 1.30
No. 68: W Sugar Creek Rd & Wilson Ln
Accidents since 2012: 25. Average daily traffic: 17,600. Crash rate: 1.30
No. 69: Queen City Dr & Mulberry Church Rd
Accidents since 2012: 25. Average daily traffic: 17,800. Crash rate: 1.28
Signs are hard to follow when you’re trying to get on I-85 here.
No. 70: Sandy Porter Rd & Brown Grier Rd
Accidents since 2012: 29. Average daily traffic: 20,700. Crash rate: 1.28
No. 71: Pineville-Matthews Rd & Rea Rd
Accidents since 2012: 87. Average daily traffic: 62,500. Crash rate: 1.27
There’s been construction on Rea for a while. There’s also a flashing yellow light to turn left and poor visibility.
No. 72: Eastway Dr & Frontenac Ave
Accidents since 2012: 70. Average daily traffic: 50,400. Crash rate: 1.27
Odd angles.
No. 73: Idlewild Rd & Monroe Rd
Accidents since 2012: 54. Average daily traffic: 38,900. Crash rate: 1.27
Lanes are narrow here. Not a lot of space.
No. 74: E W.T. Harris Blvd & Grier Rd
Accidents since 2012: 82. Average daily traffic: 60,100. Crash rate: 1.25
No. 75: N Graham St & W 10th St
Accidents since 2012: 33. Average daily traffic: 24,200. Crash rate: 1.25
No. 76: E 7th St & Charlottetowne Ave
Accidents since 2012: 40. Average daily traffic: 29,700. Crash rate: 1.23
No. 77: I-485 Ramp & S Tryon St
Accidents since 2012: 63. Average daily traffic: 47,100. Crash rate: 1.22
No. 78: Albemarle Rd & Lawyers Rd
Accidents since 2012: 71. Average daily traffic: 53,400. Crash rate: 1.21
No. 79: Freedom Dr & Toddville Rd
Accidents since 2012: 19. Average daily traffic: 14,300. Crash rate: 1.21
Construction just wrapped up here.
No. 80: University City Blvd & Ikea Blvd
Accidents since 2012: 34. Average daily traffic: 25,600. Crash rate: 1.21
Ikea. ‘Nuff said.
No. 81: N Davidson St & Parkwood Ave
Accidents since 2012: 29. Average daily traffic: 21,900. Crash rate: 1.21
Busy NoDa intersection.
No. 82: Mineral Springs Road & N Graham St & W Sugar Creek Rd
Accidents since 2012: 46. Average daily traffic: 34,900. Crash rate: 1.20
Weird angles here, too.
No. 83: Central Ave & N Kings Dr
Accidents since 2012: 57. Average daily traffic: 43,300. Crash rate: 1.20
They’re working on putting flashing yellow arrows here.
Why do Charlotteans crash?
Mostly because they’re not paying attention.
