Phoenix intersections are not just places where roads cross; they are where lives change fast. When a light turns, dozens of decisions collide in a few seconds. A driver rushes a yellow light, a truck blocks the view, a pedestrian steps off the curb, and then the crash happens.
The Maricopa Association of Governments, using Arizona Department of Transportation crash data from 2018 to 2022, ranks intersection risk across the metro region, and Phoenix accounts for most of the highest-risk spots.
We put this guide together because we handle these cases every day. We have experience with these cases and want you to know where the danger clusters are, why these locations stay risky, and how to protect yourself.
If you were already hit at one of these crossings, we also explain how an auto accident attorney in Phoenix, AZ, can help you move forward with a strong claim.
How These Intersections Were Identified
MAG scores intersections based on crash risk, combining crash frequency, injury severity, and crash type costs over five calendar years. The top 10 metro list includes a couple of intersections in Glendale. Still, the Phoenix intersections dominate the ranking, so we focus on the ten Phoenix locations from that list.
The 10 Most Dangerous Intersections In Phoenix
1. 67th Avenue And McDowell Road
This intersection ranks as the most dangerous in the entire metro area for the 2018 to 2022 period. It sits in a dense west Phoenix corridor with heavy commuting and retail traffic, wide lanes that invite speed, and long signal cycles that push drivers to gamble on late yellows.
Our cases here often involve red-light running, left-turn failures, and high-energy side-impact collisions that cause serious injuries.
Safety Focus
- Slow down early because traffic builds up quickly near the corners.
- If you are turning left, wait for a clean gap even after the arrow ends.
- Watch for drivers entering late from the outside lanes.
2. 99th Avenue And Lower Buckeye Road
MAG places this intersection in the top ten for risk, and local reporting shows it has a high crash count tied to industrial and commuter mixing. Trucks, delivery vans, and I-10 spillover create constant lane changes, and large vehicles often block sight lines for smaller cars. A driver who cannot see clearly is more likely to pull out too soon, leading to a severe angle crash.
Safety Focus
- Give trucks more space than feels comfortable, especially when they are turning.
- Hold your lane through the intersection, as drifting can cause side swipes.
- Expect sudden stops from drivers turning into nearby businesses.
3. 19th Avenue And Peoria Avenue
This is one of the most dangerous crossings inside Phoenix, and it stays near the top because of its complexity and volume. Peoria feeds I-17 access, 19th Avenue carries a strong north-south flow, and multiple turn lanes make last-second positioning tempting.
We often see chain-reaction rear-end crashes here, along with side-impact crashes from rushed left turns.
Safety Focus
- Pick your lane well before the light, and avoid late changes.
- If you miss a turn, keep going and reroute instead of cutting across lanes.
- Watch for red light runners coming off the freeway ramps.
4. 67th Avenue And Thomas Road
West Phoenix arterials like Thomas Road bring speed and congestion together, and this intersection reflects that mix with consistently high crash risk. Many collisions occur when drivers follow too closely in stop-and-go traffic or try to turn left across fast-moving oncoming traffic.
Safety Focus
- Leave extra space ahead of you so sudden braking does not trap you.
- Do not enter unless you can clear the box, because gridlock triggers rear-end impacts.
- Scan for pedestrians in the crosswalks during every turn.
5. 67th Avenue And Indian School Road
This intersection lies on another high-volume east-west route, and MAG ranks it among the most dangerous in Phoenix. Indian School stays busy day and night, and heavy turning traffic on 67th creates constant conflict points. Red light running and left turn misjudgments are frequent here.
Safety Focus
- Treat a fresh green as a stale green, since cross traffic may be finishing a late run.
- Wait a beat before entering from a stop, and look both ways.
- Turn only when you can finish in one smooth movement.
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6. 83rd Avenue And Indian School Road
This location remains in the top ten of the metro ranking, suggesting a persistent pattern rather than a temporary spike. Retail driveways near the corners create merges right before and right after the signal, and drivers often look for parking rather than watching traffic.
Safety Focus
- Expect lane changes near the corners and apply your brakes.
- Avoid passing close to the intersection, because cars may dart out.
- Use your signal early to reduce surprise reactions behind you.
7. Cave Creek Road And Sweetwater Avenue
This north Phoenix intersection ranks high because crashes here tend to cause serious injuries. Cave Creek Road curves and changes grade, which affects visibility, and drivers often arrive faster than they realize. At night, the lighting and road geometry make judging gaps harder, leading to severe angle crashes.
Safety Focus
- Reduce speed before the crest and the curve, not after.
- Look twice for oncoming traffic that the grade may hide.
- Use your headlights early in the dusk to increase your presence.
8. 51st Avenue And Thomas Road
This intersection shows high crash totals with a strong injury component in the MAG analysis. Thomas Road moves quickly, and 51st Avenue feeds dense neighborhoods with frequent turning. We often see left turn crashes and rear end impacts caused by drivers braking late for turns.
Safety Focus
- Keep a longer following distance through green lights.
- Stay alert for cars slowing in the through lane to reach driveways.
- Avoid accelerating hard toward a green light when traffic looks cluttered.
9. 27th Avenue And Camelback Road
MAG lists this as a top risk crossing, and the City of Phoenix High Injury Network maps the Camelback corridor as a serious crash zone. High traffic volume, bus activity, and pedestrian crossings increase conflict, and drivers trying to beat the lights often trigger side impact crashes.
Safety Focus
- Scan sidewalks, medians, and bus stops for late crossers.
- Do not assume oncoming traffic will stop on yellow.
- Brake early and steadily so the driver behind you has time to react.
10. 51st Avenue And Camelback Road
While this intersection is technically in Glendale, it sits on a corridor Phoenix drivers use frequently, and it remains a central regional danger zone on the top-ten list. If your daily route touches the west Camelback corridor, you should treat this crossing as high risk because the crash patterns mirror the Phoenix intersections nearby.
Safety Focus
- Expect stalled traffic in the left turn bays.
- Watch for drivers cutting across multiple lanes to reach shopping centers.
- Stay patient during peak hours, when congestion can distort judgment.
Why These Phoenix Intersections Stay Dangerous
Phoenix is built on wide arterials that feel like highways, but they are packed with signals, turn pockets, and driveways. The wider the road, the faster drivers feel comfortable going, and speed is the factor that turns a routine mistake into a life-altering impact.
MAG and City of Phoenix safety work show that serious crashes cluster in a small share of major corridors, especially in west and north-central Phoenix. Growth adds pressure, too, since more residents and more delivery traffic mean more chances for distraction and poor gap choices.
Common causes we see at these crossings include:
- Drivers rushing stale green lights or running reds.
- Left turns that cut across oncoming lanes without a safe gap.
- Distracted lane changes near the corners.
- Following too close during stop-and-go congestion.
Practical Ways To Make These Crossings Safer
You cannot control other drivers, but you can lower your risk by driving with a plan.
- Approach every green light prepared to stop, because it may change, and cross traffic may be late.
- Leave a larger gap than usual before and after intersections, since that is where sudden braking is most likely to occur.
- Avoid blocking the intersection when traffic is backed up, as that creates side-impact exposure.
- Watch the wheels of nearby cars, since wheel motion tells you more than a head turn.
- At night, slow down even more than usual because visibility and speed combine to increase injury risk.
What To Do After An Intersection Crash In Phoenix
Intersections create complicated fault questions, so early evidence matters.
- Call 911 and request medical help, even when the pain feels mild, because side effects often mask injuries.
- Photograph the signal lights, lane arrows, skid marks, and nearby signs, since these details support timing arguments.
- Get witness names and numbers, because third-party accounts often decide who had the right of way.
- Do not argue and do not accept blame at the scene, since early statements are often used against you later.
- Get checked by a doctor within 24 hours, then follow the treatment clearly.
- Contact an intersection car accident attorney in Phoenix quickly, because video and electronic evidence can disappear.
How We Help At GLG Personal Injury Lawyers
When you come to us, we treat the case like a reconstruction job from day one. We gather the police report, locate nearby cameras, review signal timing when available, and connect impact angles to vehicle damage.
We bring in experts when needed, and we push back hard against insurance tactics that try to shift blame without proof. If you need a Phoenix, Arizona, accident lawyer who understands how these intersections work and can show what really happened, we are ready to step in.
Contact Our Office for a Free Consultation
These intersections are dangerous because they combine speed, volume, and constant turning conflict, and that recipe does not change unless drivers change their habits. Use patience at greens, protect your space cushion, and expect mistakes from others.
If a crash still happens, our Phoenix car accident lawyer team is here to help you recover physically and financially, with clear guidance from start to finish.
