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States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation
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FHWA Highway Safety Programs
 1. Home
 2. Safety
 3. Intersection Safety


IN THIS SECTION

 * Intersection Safety
   * Overview
   * About
   * In The News
   * Resources
   * Contacts
 * Safe System Intersections
 * Intersection Control Evaluation
 * Corridor Access Management
 * Intersection Types
   * Roundabouts
   * Stop–Controlled
   * Signalized
   * Reduced Left–Turn Conflict
   * Crossover
   * Other Designs




ABOUT INTERSECTION SAFETY

Source: Ekspansio, E+, Getty Images

Intersecting roadways are necessary to connect people driving, walking and
bicycling from one route to another. However, where roads intersect and paths
cross, the resulting conflict points create circumstances where crashes can
occur. In fact, each year roughly one–quarter of traffic fatalities and about
one–half of all traffic injuries in the United States are attributed to
intersections. That is why intersections are a national, state and local road
safety priority, and a program focus area for FHWA.

FHWA is committed to the vision of zero deaths and serious injuries on our
Nation's roadways. Making intersections safer is a critical and essential step
toward realizing that vision.

 



This page presents annual statistics for intersection related traffic
fatalities. This data is extracted from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis and Reporting System (FARS). To explore
this data further, access the FARS Query Tool. The FHWA Safety Program includes
crashes where any one of the following are cited in the FARS crash record:

 * Intersection
 * Intersection–related
 * Driveway access
 * Driveway access–related


IMPROVING INTERSECTIONS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS

When designed with pedestrians and bicyclists explicitly in mind, all types of
intersections can facilitate safe, accessible, convenient, and comfortable
walking and bicycling. The purpose of this guide is to inform the state of the
practice concerning intersection planning and design to implement solutions that
help achieve the goal for zero fatalities and serious injuries while also making
roads better places for walking and bicycling. The following material serves as
a supplement to FHWA's series of intersection informational guides and makes
direct connections to other FHWA bikeway and pedestrian facility selection
guides.

 * Improving Intersections for Pedestrians and Bicyclists Informational Guide
 * Intersection Type One Page Fact Sheets


 


UNSIGNALIZED INTERSECTION CRASHES

Source: FHWA

Unsignalized intersections are the most common type of intersection in the
United States and can be:

 * Stop sign–controlled – at least one approach to the intersection is
   controlled by a stop sign.
 * Yield sign–controlled – at least one approach to the intersection is
   controlled by a yield sign.
 * Uncontrolled – none of the approaches to the intersection are controlled by a
   regulatory sign or traffic signal; typically found on very low–volume roads
   in rural or residential areas.


FATALITIES AT UNSIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS

Year Total Traffic Fatalities Total Traffic Fatalities Involving an Intersection
Total Traffic Fatalities Involving an Unsignalized Intersection Pedestrian
Fatalities Involving an Unsignalized Intersection Bicyclist Fatalities Involving
an Unsignalized Intersection 2017 37,473 10,482 7,136 1,021 204 2018 36,835
10,148 6,801 1,036 220 2019 36,355 10,273 6,977 1,048 214 2020 38,824 10,720
7,143 877 210 2021 42,939 11,799 7,752 939 260


 


SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION CRASHES

Source:fstop123,Getty Images Plus

Traffic signals are often chosen for operational reasons, and may involve
trade–offs between safety and mobility. Signalized intersections represent about
one–third of all intersection fatalities, including a large proportion that
involve red–light running.


FATALITIES AT SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS

Year Total Traffic Fatalities Total Traffic Fatalities Involving an Intersection
Total Traffic Fatalities Involving a Signalized Intersection Total Traffic
Fatalities Involving Red-Light Running at a Signalized Intersection Pedestrian
Fatalities Involving a Signalized Intersection Bicyclist Fatalities Involving
a Signalized Intersection Pedestrian and Bicyclist Fatalities Involving
Red-Light Running at a Signalized Intersection 2017 37,473 10,482 3,346 922 826
128 51 2018 36,835 10,148 3,347 871 817 140 57 2019 36,355 10,273 3,296 856 848
152 62 2020 39,007 10,720 3,577 1,074 792 151 58 2021 42,939 11,799 4,047 1,202
853 154 58

 


WRONG–WAY DRIVING CRASHES

A wrong–way driving crash is defined as one in which a vehicle traveling in a
direction

Source:Pedro Freithas,iStock/Getty Images Plus

opposing the legal flow of traffic on a high–speed divided highway or access
ramp collides with a vehicle traveling on the same roadway in the proper
direction. This definition is typically limited to controlled–access highways
and associated ramps, but excludes crashes that result from median crossover
encroachments. Wrong–way driving crashes involve high–speed head–on or opposite
direction sideswipe crashes, which tend to be more severe than other types of
crashes.

 


WRONG-WAY DRIVING FATALITIES

Year Total Traffic Fatalities WWD Traffic Fatalities 2017 37,473 455 2018 36,835
445 2019 36,355 502 2020 39,007 507 2021 42,939 697

While wrong–way driving, as defined here, is not "intersection–related" in terms
of where the crash occurs, it is appropriate to consider it under the umbrella
of intersection safety because it originates with an improper maneuver at an
intersection. However, the fatalities attributed to wrong–way driving are
calculated separately from those for intersections.  

 * NEW! Wrong–Way Driving Solutions Handbook (NCHRP Report 1050)(link is
   external)
 * NEW! Developing Crash Modification Factors for Wrong-Way Driving
   Countermeasures Report
 * NEW! Developing Crash Modification Factors for Wrong-Way Driving
   Countermeasures Tech Brief
 * NEW! Compendium of Wrong-Way Driving Treatments and Countermeasures
 * Countermeasures for Wrong–Way Driving on Freeways – Project Summary
   Report(link is external)
 * Guidelines for Reducing Wrong–Way Crashes on Freeways
 * Assessment of the Effectiveness of Wrong–Way Driving Countermeasures and
   Mitigation Methods(link is external)
 * Wrong–Way Driving – Road Safety Audit Prompt List
 * Wrong–Way Driving Special Investigation Report


Last updated: Friday, March 29, 2024



U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000

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