Most Dangerous Roads In Miami, FL

Most Dangerous Roads In Miami, FL

Data proves what most drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists throughout Miami, Florida, know instinctively: Certain roads in the city are more dangerous than others. Auto accidents in Miami, FL tend to cluster in these locations, as they are often busy and lack traffic facilities, such as crosswalks and traffic signals, to protect and control road users, leading to injuries and property damage.

What is a Dangerous Road?

A road is inherently dangerous when its conditions are unforgiving of driver error; in other words, the primary contributing factor to Miami car accidents is careless and risky driving. 

However, reckless drivers cannot cause crashes where there are no cars. Thus, crashes tend to cluster where errors are likely to happen, and those mistakes can result in a collision with another road user.

The following factors can create the conditions for car crashes:

  • Lack of law enforcement 
  • High-speed traffic
  • Congestion
  • Inadequate traffic controls (a lack of signs and signals)
  • Road design and maintenance
  • Lack of pedestrian and bicycle facilities, such as crosswalks and bike lanes

When drivers make mistakes under these conditions, they can hit fixed objects, like parked cars, or other road users, including vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Dangerous Roads in Miami

Miami-Dade County’s High Injury Network map shows several corridors representing the roads and highways where crashes tend to cluster due to a combination of driver behavior, including distracted driving, road design, and traffic policies. The county analyzed crash data over the five years spanning 2018 through 2022. 

The 20 most dangerous roads (and road segments) in the high-injury network, listed below, accounted for more than 100 deaths and hundreds of injuries over that time:

  • W. 16th Ave. (from Okeechobee Rd. to W. 68th St.)
  • NW. 20th St. (between NW. 27th Ave. and N. Miami Ave.)
  • W. 29th St. (from W. Okeechobee Rd. to Palm Ave.)
  • NW. 17th Ave. (from SW. 8th St. to NW. 119th St.)
  • NW. 62nd St. (between W. Okeechobee Rd. and NW. 6th Ave.)
  • NW. 12th Ave. (from NW. 40th St. to NW. 62nd St.)
  • W. 12th Ave. (from W. 29th St. to W. 68th St.)
  • Hialeah Gardens Blvd. (between W. Okeechobee Rd. and W. 84th St.)
  • SW. 104th St. (from SW. 157th Ave. to SW. 117th Ave.)
  • NW. 7th St. (between NW. 37th Ave. and NW. 12th Ave.)
  • W. 76th St. (from NW. 97th Ave. through NW. 87th Ave.)
  • E. 4th Ave. (between E. 65th St. and Hialeah Dr.)
  • Dade Blvd. (from Venetian Way to 23rd St.)
  • NW. 22nd Ave. (from NW. 7th St. to NW. 183rd St.)
  • West Ave. (between 17th St. and 5th St.)
  • NW. 2nd Ave. (between NW. 20th St. and NW. 79th St.)
  • NW. 30th St. (between NW. 12th Ave. and NW. 27th Ave.)
  • SW. 312th St. (from SW. 187th Ave. to N. Krome Ave.)
  • NW. 122nd St. (from NW. 92nd Ave. to W. 4th Ave.)
  • W. 60th St. (from W. 28th Ave. to Palm Ave.)

The county’s analysis does not include state and interstate highways, such as US-41, US-1, and I-95, as these fall outside the jurisdiction of the city and county. As such, the state and federal governments are responsible for designing and maintaining them and setting their speed limits and other specific traffic policies.

Driving Safely in Miami

The most dangerous roads in Miami-Dade County also serve as its most convenient routes through the area, which might make traveling safely tricky. However, you can still drive the city safely by planning your trip to avoid them. You can also exercise extra caution when using these roads and highways by avoiding distractions and wearing a seat belt.