Phoenix’s Most Dangerous Sidewalks And Intersections
Phoenix is a city built on wide arterials, fast traffic, and rapid growth. Those same features also explain why Phoenix’s most dangerous sidewalks and dangerous intersections continue to place pedestrians and drivers at risk across the Phoenix metro area. From long crossings on Indian School Road to multi-lane conflicts along Camelback Road and McDowell Road, crashes happen with alarming regularity.
This safety guide summarizes publicly available crash data from regional and state transportation agencies. The goal is practical: identify where intersection crashes cluster, explain why they persist, and outline steps that can reduce serious injuries and life altering injuries for everyone who uses these streets.
Executive Summary
Across metro Phoenix, a small set of high-volume corridors accounts for a disproportionate share of motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and side impact crashes. West-side arterials dominate the list, especially in the West Valley, where wide arterials, high speeds, multiple turn lanes, and heavy bus activity intersect with dense retail and housing.
Several intersections show consistently higher crash frequency and severity based on regional crash rankings. Along these corridors, red light running, left turn collisions, and conflicts with oncoming traffic are common. The same factors repeat: long crossings, complex signal phases, traffic signals that feel rushed during rush hours, and sidewalk gaps that push pedestrians closer to fast-moving traffic.
Intersection Crashes And Injury Severity Methodology
This summary is based on regional and state sources used by planners and safety engineers, including the Maricopa Association of Governments crash rankings and Arizona Department of Transportation summaries. We reviewed a five-year crash window (2018–2022 where noted, with 2023 context added) to capture consistent patterns rather than one-year spikes.
Injury Severity Categories
Crashes were grouped by injury severity, from property-damage-only incidents to serious injuries and fatalities. National context comes from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which reports that 96 percent of intersection crashes are due to driver error and that nationwide, more than 12,000 traffic deaths in 2022 were tied to intersection-related crashes. Statewide, 122,247 crashes occurred in 2023, many at intersections, and thousands involved red light or failure-to-yield violations.
Dangerous Intersections In Phoenix: Top Hotspots
To qualify as most dangerous intersections, locations had to show sustained crash frequency, elevated severity, and high crash-related costs in MAG rankings. Avenues dominate because they are often the north-south spines crossing east-west arterials, creating numerous conflict points with signal lights, transit stops, and nearby businesses.
67th Avenue & McDowell Road
Between 2018 and 2022, 67th Avenue and McDowell road recorded 229 crashes, the highest count in Phoenix. Predominant crash types include left turn crashes, t bone and other side impact collisions, and rear-ends during yellow light transitions. Long crossings and drivers cutting lanes to turn left amplify risk, especially for pedestrians using older curb ramps.
67th Avenue & Indian School Road
This intersection logged 167 crashes in the same period. Frequent red light runners and hurried left turn movements during peak rush hours create repeated conflicts. Sidewalk gaps and bus activity increase exposure for people crossing Indian school.
83rd Avenue & Indian School Road
With 187 crashes, this west-side node shows a clear pattern of red light running and turning conflicts. Multiple lanes and wide geometry affect visibility, making it harder to judge gaps in oncoming traffic.
51st Avenue & Camelback Road
This crossing saw 174 crashes. Bus stops, retail driveways, and signal lights packed into a short distance create friction. Pedestrians navigating long crossings face vehicles accelerating on a fresh green light.
Cave Creek Road & Sweetwater Avenue
Along Cave Creek Road, geometry and sight-line issues stand out. Limited lighting and skewed angles near Sweetwater Avenue contribute to misjudged turns and nighttime crashes.
Most Dangerous Roads And Sidewalk Corridors
Individual intersections matter, but risk multiplies along corridors where crash patterns repeat block after block.
Indian School Road Corridor
High-risk segments along Indian School Road combine speed, long crossings, and frequent signals. Mapping repeated intersections reveals pedestrian hotspots near transit and retail clusters.
Camelback Road Corridor
Camelback Road appears repeatedly in high-injury networks. The mix of high speeds, dense access points, and wide crossings elevates risk for other drivers and walkers alike.
Cave Creek Road Corridor
Segments of Cave Creek Road show higher nighttime crash severity, underscoring the role of lighting and visibility on Arizona roads.
Why These Dangerous Intersections Persist
Three forces reinforce one another. First, road design favors throughput over safety, with 5+ lane crossings and long distances between safe crosswalks. Second, traffic volume and commercial density add turning conflicts near bus stops and driveways. Third, sidewalk conditions lag growth: narrow widths under 36 inches, missing curb ramps, cracked concrete, and heat-soaked surfaces that can exceed 130°F in summer.
Human behavior compounds the problem. Failure to yield properly, distraction, impairment, and speeding turn small mistakes into severe outcomes. The wider a road feels, the faster drivers go, increasing the chance that side impact crashes cause serious injuries.
How To Prevent Intersection Crash Injuries
For drivers: slow down on wide arterials, anticipate red light and yellow light changes, scan for pedestrians before you turn left, and stay extra vigilant near transit stops and nearby businesses.
For pedestrians: make eye contact before stepping off the curb, cross on a full green light, avoid medians where enforcement has increased, and choose signalized crossings even if it adds distance.
For the city: proven fixes include better lighting, refuge islands, shorter signal cycles, protected left-turn phases, and expanded High-Intensity Activated Crosswalks under Vision Zero.
What To Do After An Intersection Crash
The following is general information and not legal advice. Every situation is different.
Get medical care first, even if injuries seem minor. Document the scene with photos, skid marks, vehicle damage, and note nearby cameras. Gather witness details and preserve evidence early; complex intersection crashes often involve conflicting accounts and multiple vehicles.
Free Consultation For Injury Victims
If you were hurt at one of the dangerous intersections in Phoenix, legal guidance may help you better understand medical billing issues, insurance claims, and fault analysis. Harris Injury Law offers a free consultation. In some cases, and where appropriate, the firm may consult with qualified experts, such as engineers or investigators, depending on the needs of the matter. Learn more by speaking with a Phoenix pedestrian accident lawyer at (480) 800-4878.
