Key Takeaways:
- Truxel Road and Arena Boulevard is the most dangerous intersection in Sacramento.
- Sacramento’s intersection crash rate is 4.20% lower than the average of California cities.
- However, Sacramento’s fatal injury and serious injury rate for intersection crashes are both lower than the average of California cities.
Sacramento, the state capital of California, serves as a hub for government activity, commerce, and culture. With a growing population and busy traffic, the city faces its own set of challenges when it comes to road safety, particularly at intersections. These busy areas, where vehicles frequently converge, are hotspots for accidents, often resulting in severe consequences for those involved.
For this analysis, we examined 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 to identify Sacramento’s top 10 most dangerous intersections. We also compare the crash proportions at Sacramento’s intersections with those of other major California cities and provide a breakdown of crash severity across various categories.
It’s important to note that our dataset focuses on incidents where an injury, regardless of severity, was either reported or suspected. Collisions that resulted in less severe outcomes are excluded from this analysis.
Ranking Intersections by Danger Score
To identify Sacramento’s most high-risk intersections, we ranked them using a “danger score” that accounts for both crash frequency and severity. While some locations may not have the highest number of total crashes, their danger score reflects a greater proportion of serious injuries, making them particularly concerning.
Truxel Road and Arena Boulevard tops the list with 30 crashes and a danger score of 56. This intersection sits near a commercial area and major roadways, making it a key traffic point that sees high volumes of vehicles throughout the day.
Close behind is I Street and 5th Street, where 28 crashes contributed to a danger score of 52. Located near downtown Sacramento, this intersection experiences a mix of commuter, business, and event traffic, leading to frequent congestion and increased collision risks.
Two intersections share the third-place ranking, each with a danger score of 50: Truxel Road and Gateway Park Boulevard (27 crashes) and Mack Road and Valley Hi Drive (18 crashes).
Sacramento’s Intersection Crash Rate vs. Other California Cities
This analysis compares Sacramento’s intersection crash rate to those of other California cities.
With an average intersection crash rate of 37.16% across all studied California cities, Sacramento’s rate of 35.60% is approximately 4.20% lower than the average.
Crash Severity Distribution
Finally, we provide a breakdown of intersection crashes by severity, categorized as fatal, serious, minor, and possible injuries.
Sacramento’s intersection fatality rate is 0.77% lower than the average of 2.34% across cities. The serious injury rate is also lower, with Sacramento at 6.94%, which is 2.26% below the average of 9.20%.
For other injury types, minor injuries account for 34.31% of intersection crashes, while possible injuries make up 57.19%.
Conclusion
Sacramento’s intersection crash data reveals both positive trends and areas of concern. The city’s intersection crash rate is slightly lower than the average of other major California cities, and its fatal and serious injury rates are also below statewide benchmarks. However, certain intersections, such as Truxel Road and Arena Boulevard, may require targeted interventions to enhance safety and reduce crash severity. If you were injured in one of these intersections, contact our Sacramento personal injury lawyers today.
Methodology
This research used 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. The dataset focuses exclusively on crashes with reported or suspected injuries, leaving out minor incidents without recorded injuries.
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