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As a driver, you can take every safety step possible and still end up in an accident because of another driver’s carelessness. This worry grows when you drive on highways where you share the road with thousands of other cars going at high speeds.
Chicago’s highways, while needed for getting around the city, have several very dangerous stretches where crashes often happen.
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The deadly stretch of I-57
The I-57 connects to Interstate 24, which is touted as one of the most dangerous highways in the entire country. The 30 miles of the I-24 in Illinois reportedly had 15 fatal accidents in 2022.
In particular, the stretch of I-57 between Exit 353 and Exit 348 stands as one of Chicago’s most dangerous road segments. This 4.2-mile stretch alone saw eight fatal accidents and around two crashes per mile between 2018 and 2020.
Stevenson Expressway
I-55 is a major highway that connects Chicago with St. Louis. This highway gets a lot of traffic from large commercial trucks, which are often involved in fatal vehicle crashes along the expressway.
The stretch between Exits 287 and 292B alone had a total of eight fatalities. Moreover, the I-55 connects to Lake Shore Drive, which stands out as one of the most crash-prone areas in Chicago. This is mostly due to speeding and reckless driving.
Eisenhower Expressway
The I-290 or Eisenhower Expressway also reportedly had eight deaths along the five-mile stretch of Exit 15A to Exit 21B from 2018 to 2020. Meanwhile, the part of the I-290 near Cook County had nearly one-third of all car accidents that led to death in Illinois, totaling almost 400 fatal crashes.
The complex I-94 system
For Illinois locals, the I-94 network, which includes the Dan Ryan, Bishop Ford, Edens and Kennedy Expressways, is practically a death trap for drivers.
The complicated highway system handles hundreds of thousands of vehicles daily, which increases the chances of accidents happening. The many entrance and exit points create dangerous merging situations. Speeding and fast lane changes increase the risk of car crashes even more.
Kingery Expressway
I-80 or the Kingery Expressway has been a danger for drivers for years now. This stays true not only for Chicago but for many other states the highway passes through.
Accidents involving personal cars and commercial semis happen on the I-80 a lot. Summertime can make things worse. During this season, more fatal accidents happen due to greater congestion and many ongoing road constructions.
Staying safe on Chicago highways
Knowing these high-risk areas can help change how you drive when traveling through Chicago. Keep safe distances between cars and adjust your speed based on conditions, especially in these known danger zones. Remember that defensive driving gives you the best protection against unpredictable drivers on these hazardous highways.
