Key Takeaways:
- Friant Road & Shepherd Avenue is the most dangerous intersection in Fresno.
- Fresno’s intersection crash rate is 2.47% higher than the average of California cities.
- The city’s fatal injury rate for intersection crashes is 73.50% higher than the cross-city average and the serious injury rate is 12.80% higher than the cross-city average.
Fresno is most recognized for its central role in California’s agricultural heartland, producing a significant portion of the state’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts. In addition to its agricultural prominence, the city attracts tourists with its proximity to natural landmarks like Yosemite National Park. However, with a growing population, expanding infrastructure, and increasing traffic, Fresno’s intersections have become a focal point for collisions.
To better understand the most hazardous areas, we analyzed crash data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), which was cleaned and geocoded by the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) from 2020 to 2024. Our study highlights the 10 most dangerous intersections in Fresno, comparing the city’s intersection crash proportion with other major California cities, and providing a detailed breakdown of crash severity.
It’s important to note that this analysis only includes incidents where an injury, regardless of severity, was reported or suspected. Crashes that resulted in no injuries or were deemed less severe are not included in this dataset. Through this report, we aim to shed light on the intersections that pose the highest risks and advocate for focused efforts to improve safety measures in these critical areas.
Ranking Intersections by Danger Score
The intersections below are ranked based on the “danger score,” a composite metric that factors in the total number of crashes over a five-year period, while also considering the severity of each crash. More serious injuries contribute more to the final score, giving a clearer picture of the most hazardous intersections in Fresno.
The intersection of Friant Road and Shepherd Avenue ranks as the most dangerous in Fresno, with a total of 21 crashes and a danger score of 42. This intersection sees a relatively high crash volume compared to others, placing it at the top of the list. It’s followed closely by Blackstone Avenue and Dakota Avenue, which recorded 16 crashes and a danger score of 39. This intersection is a significant point of concern, with a considerable number of crashes resulting in injuries.
In third place, tied with Blackstone Avenue and Ashlan Avenue, we find two high-risk intersections, both with 13 crashes. However, Blackstone Avenue and Ashlan Avenue ranks slightly higher with a danger score of 35. These intersections see a steady flow of traffic, likely contributing to the risk of accidents.
Fresno’s Intersection Crash Rate vs. Other California Cities
Here, we contrast Fresno’s intersection crash rate with those of other cities in California.
With an average intersection crash rate of 37.16% across all studied California cities, Fresno’s rate of 38.08% is about 2.47% higher.
Crash Severity Distribution
Finally, we categorize intersection crashes by severity, including fatal, serious, minor, and possible injuries.
Examining Fresno’s intersection crash injury patterns reveals concerning trends in the most severe categories. Fresno exhibits a fatal injury rate of 4.06% in intersection crashes, which is 73.5% higher than the cross-city average of 2.34%. For serious injuries, Fresno reports a rate of 10.38%, exceeding the cross-city average of 9.20% by 12.8%.
Looking at less severe categories, Fresno documents 31.48% minor injuries and 54.08% possible injuries in intersection crashes. The data indicates that approximately 85% of intersection crash injuries in Fresno fall into less severe classifications.
Conclusion
While the city’s overall intersection crash rate is only slightly higher than the average for California cities, its fatal and serious injury rates are significantly elevated. The fatal injury rate, in particular, stands out as a major concern, exceeding the cross-city average by over 73%. Given the severity of injuries reported, Fresno could benefit from enhanced traffic enforcement, better signal timing, and infrastructure upgrades to mitigate risks and reduce the likelihood of severe crashes at high-risk intersections. If you were injured, contact our Fresno personal injury lawyers.
Methodology
This analysis relied on crash data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), which was cleaned and geocoded by the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) from 2020 to 2024. Only crashes involving reported or suspected injuries were included, while minor incidents without documented injuries were excluded.
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