Certain highways and roads throughout the state have stretches that are considered more dangerous. A significant number of accidents continue to occur along the same routes. Arkansas has one of the highest roadway fatality rates in the nation. Indeed, some of the problems may be due to infrastructure, weather, or other contributing factors, but more often, human error is the culprit.
Knowing where and how car accidents can happen helps Arkansas drivers prepare for the potential risks of driving particular routes and enables them to be aware of developing traffic situations. The Arkansas car accident attorneys at LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers appreciate how car accidents can change lives and encourage Arkansans to practice safe driving habits.
Places in Arkansas Where Statistically More Car Accidents Happen
The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) roadway fatalities dashboard shows that 590 people lost their lives on the roads in Arkansas in 2023. The fatality rate was slightly higher for occupants of pickups or SUVs compared to those in passenger cars.
Of the 413 people who died in motor vehicle accidents, 46% were not wearing seat belts. Fatal motorcycle accidents claimed 92 lives in 2023. Close to 90% of the deceased riders were white males, and more than half of them were not wearing helmets.
Though fatal traffic accidents have decreased by about 12% since 2021, individual traffic deaths have increased 30% overall in the last decade. This may be due to a combination of factors, including:
- Increase in the severity of accidents
- Higher number of occupants in vehicles or pedestrians on the street
- Less safe vehicles lacking modern safety features like automatic emergency braking
- Increase in risky driver behaviors, such as reckless or distracted driving
Car accidents can happen at any time and anywhere since human error is often a contributing factor. Places where crashes are more likely to occur usually have additional risk factors, such as road or traffic conditions, which, when combined with human error, increase the probability of accidents.
Crash Statistics in the Six Most Populous Arkansas Counties by Most Dangerous Routes
According to the latest available data in the 2023 Act 789 Report, the routes through the most heavily populated counties experienced the most crashes in the state. The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) examined the six most populous counties and the route or routes in each county where the most accidents occurred.
Some routes have several particularly dangerous segments where crashes occur frequently.
- Pulaski County. Route 30 had 272 accidents, and Route 70 had 232. Most accidents in any county with 1,006.
- Benton County. Route 102 had 286 accidents, and Route 71 had 244.
- Washington County. Route 412 has several dangerous stretches, resulting in 510 accidents.
- Faulkner County. Route 65 has several risky segments and recorded 425 crashes.
- Sebastian County. Route 22 is the most dangerous county highway with 510 accidents.
- Craighead County. Route 49 had the most crashes with 341.
What makes specific stretches of roadway more dangerous than others is often a combination of factors. Typically, when more drivers are using the roads, more accidents will occur. However, other contributing factors can influence where and when a car accident is more likely to happen.
Factors Contributing to Where Car Crashes Happen in Arkansas
When a car accident happens, there are usually several factors that have come together at a particular time and place. It is rare for human behavior not to contribute to the circumstances resulting in a crash. The following factors commonly affect the timing, location, and severity of an accident.
Rural Roadways vs. Urban Roadways
More crashes happen on urban roadways than in rural areas, but the damage is often less severe. Motorists are generally going slower in urban areas, and the infrastructure is usually better in places that must accommodate more types of transportation. Collisions with non-motorists are a greater accident risk factor in urban areas.
A disproportionately larger number of fatal accidents occur in rural Arkansas counties. Speeds can be higher due to less traffic, and the driving environment is less controlled and more rugged. Between 2016 and 2022, the 10 counties having the highest traffic fatality rate per 100,000 residents were all rural, with Monroe, Lawrence, and Calhoun counties topping the list.
Vehicle Speeds
Speed is a significant risk factor that contributes both to crash risk and severity. Roadways where motorists can travel faster and have fewer safety features, such as rural highways, are riskier for speed-related car accidents, which are more likely to be fatal.
Dates and Times
Driving on certain dates and at certain times can influence where a car accident is likely to happen. For instance, based on data collected between 2016 and 2020, ARDOT reports that motorists in Pulaski, Benton, and Washington counties are at the highest risk of getting into an accident with an impaired driver during weekends in April, July, and August, between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. or after 1 a.m.
Intersections
ARDOT reports that about 25% of fatal and serious injury traffic accidents in Arkansas occur in urban intersections. The majority of these crashes take place during daylight on the weekends, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Driver Distraction
More than eight people are injured or killed every day as a result of distracted driving in the United States. In Arkansas, accident records show that driver distraction is a peak crash risk factor in populated urban areas on Thursdays or Fridays in August, between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., and 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Driver Impairment
The risk of getting into an accident with an impaired driver in Arkansas is greater on any urban road and only slightly more likely to happen during daylight than at night. More crashes involving impaired drivers occur in the most populated counties, but several counties in south central Arkansas have the highest percentage of total traffic fatalities and injuries attributed to impaired driving crashes.
Is the Severity of Injuries Affected by Where a Car Accident Takes Place?
The severity of injuries received in a car crash can very easily be affected by where the accident takes place. Driving in certain areas can increase the risk of more serious accidents, and specific types of accidents are more likely to occur in particular locations.
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that collisions between motor vehicles result in nearly 75% of the injuries from car accidents but only 42% of the fatalities. About 28% of traffic fatalities occur when a single vehicle hits a fixed or other object.
A fatal accident between two vehicles is more likely to occur when one vehicle impacts another car at an angle. Angle, or side (t-bone), impact collisions result in the most injuries (42%) and fatalities (46%). Most angle collisions happen at intersections, though they can also occur on any roadway where traffic is attempting to merge.
Rear-end collisions account for 40% of the injury accidents, but only about 18% of rear-end crashes are fatal. Rear-end accidents are more likely to occur when there is heavy stop-and-go traffic around urban areas or on roadways when weather conditions affect stopping distance or the ability to stop.
Head-on collisions cause about 28% of the fatal car accidents. Unfortunately, head-on collisions can happen anywhere because they are often the result of reckless or risky behavior on the part of the driver causing the accident. However, the general risk of a head-on collision is greater on roads with no barrier between directions of travel, especially when visibility is poor or weather conditions are affecting the roadway.
Tips to Help Motorists Be Aware and Stay Safe When Driving in Arkansas
Driving is a risky business that requires focus and a level head. Engaging in unsafe driving behavior, driving while experiencing mental stress, or driving while distracted by electronic devices significantly increases the risk of collisions, especially in areas of the state that are known to have a high rate of accidents.
Striving for the ultimate goal of zero fatalities on Arkansas roadways, the Arkansas Highway Safety Office (AHSO) encourages Arkansans to drive defensively and offers the following seven heroic tips to help drivers establish safe driving habits that will save time, money, and lives.
Avoid Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving can be as deadly as impaired or distracted driving. When a driver is sleepy or tired, awareness is dull. Drivers can miss critical traffic information, and their reaction times can become sluggish. Avoid driving when your eyes feel heavy, you are nodding off, or you are having trouble staying in your lane.
Don’t Text and Drive
Texting and driving is against the law for a reason. When eyes and hands are on an electronic device, they are not on the road or the wheel. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that texting is an alarming distraction, capable of diverting driver attention from the roadway for up to 5 seconds.
In a vehicle traveling 55 mph, diverting attention from the road to read or write a text is to drive the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
Wear Your Seatbelts
Buckle up, Arkansas. Every trip. Every time. Distances traveled and relative speeds don’t guarantee safety from accidents. Most crashes causing death or injury happen at speeds under 40 mph, and 75% of all fatal crashes occur within 25 miles of home.
Seatbelts prevent occupants from being thrown from the vehicle and offer protection when airbags are deployed. Close to 18% of Arkansas drivers do not wear seatbelts. Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of serious or fatal injury by about 50%.
Slow Down
Speeding increases both the chances of having an accident and of being seriously injured. Exceeding the speed limit or going too fast for road or traffic conditions reduces reaction time and increases the distance necessary to stop. Going faster than a safe or posted speed makes the roadways more stressful and dangerous for all users. In 2023, 1 in 5 traffic fatalities was speed-related in Arkansas.
Don’t Drive While Impaired
Impairment is a diminished ability to drive that may result from drinking, taking drugs, being distracted, or being drowsy. If you’re impaired, take an Uber. Ride the bus. Call a friend. Don’t drive. ARDOT has revealed that on average, one person each day is seriously injured or killed by an impaired driver in Arkansas.
Use Your Turn Signals
Communicating your intentions to other motorists by using your signals lets them know what to expect and gives them time to adjust their driving behavior to avoid accidents. Failure to use turn signals can lead to lane change, rear-end, and intersection collisions.
Maintain a Safe Following Distance
Following any vehicle too closely reduces the amount of time you have to react if the vehicle ahead suddenly stops. It also reduces the amount of space you have to work with to avoid being hit by the vehicle behind you. When following a large tractor-trailer, remember that following too closely puts you in the driver’s blind spot, so try to stay at least two car lengths behind the big rigs.
Any car accident lawyer will tell you that every one of their clients would rather have stayed safe and avoided an accident. Keeping in mind the foregoing tips from the AHSO can help ensure that you and your family will have a safe travel experience on the roads of the Opportunity State.
If You’re Hurt in a Car, Call LeVar
Despite the state’s worthwhile goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities, statistics show that there is still a long way to go to substantially reduce the risk of death or serious injury on Arkansas roadways. Getting into a car accident takes a physical, emotional, and financial toll on accident victims and their families. Hiring an experienced car accident attorney who genuinely cares about making it right will help.
At LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, our Arkansas car accident lawyers have decades of combined experience representing clients injured in car accidents in Pulaski County and surrounding areas. We take on tough cases, fight for the little guy, and help our clients get what they need to get back on their feet. Schedule a free consultation to learn how LeVar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers can serve you. You can also reach us by phone at (888) 220-7068.
