The most dangerous roads and highways in Orange County are the scenes for many car crashes, property damage, bodily injuries, and even lives, year after year. It’s no secret in the Golden State, Orange County streets are among the most dangerous to drive or bike. Whether you’re in a sedan, minivan, truck, or SUV, it’s a risk to take to the roads each and every time you drive. We’ve done a little digging to identify which Orange County roads pose the most safety hazards and some of them might surprise you.
The Most Dangerous Roads and Highways in Orange County
There are several reasons roads pose a danger to the ordinary driver and it’s not just about weather conditions. Today, drivers are exposed to more distractions than ever before. In the past, eating and drinking accounted for a good percentage of distracted driving. Now, driver distractions are more numerous: texting, email, phone conversations, GPS, adjusting volumes, changing media, the list goes on and on. While technology certainly makes life easier, it can present significant dangers when on the road.
Some ninety percent of motor vehicle crashes are caused at least in part by human error. This intuitive claim is a fine place to start discussions about the safety potential of vehicle automation. (It is not an appropriate place to end these discussions. After all, humans can be amazing drivers, the performance of advanced automation systems is still unclear, automated vehicles can be misused, and automation shifts some error from driver to designer.) —Stanford Law School
And, it’s not only technology, as one distraction remains the single biggest cause of traffic accidents. Being “lost in thought,” accounts for an astounding 62 percent of road fatalities, with cell phone use coming in second with 12 percent. Events or persons outside a car, which causes “rubbernecking,” is responsible for 7 percent, while other passengers, such as children and adults, makes-up 5 percent. This is why your eyes should remain on the road and your mind concentrating on driving, especially when it comes to the most dangerous roads and highways in Orange County. In the latest complete data available, from November 2014 through October 2015, according to DataScience and Orange County Weekly, these are the intersections with the most vehicle collisions in the area:
- Beach Boulevard and Chapman Avenue. Location: Stanton, California. Number of collisions 15.
- Beach Boulevard and Lampson Avenue. Location: Stanton, California. Number of collisions 12.
- Alicia Parkway and Jeronimo Road. Location: Mission Viejo, California. Number of collisions 11.
- Alicia Parkway and Muirlands Boulevard. Location: Mission Viejo, California. Number of collisions 9.
- Crown Valley Parkway and Cabot Road. Location: Niguel, California. Number of collisions 8.
- Marguerite Parkway and Crown Valley Parkway. Location: Mission Viejo, California. Number of collisions 8.
- Beach Boulevard and Garden Grove Boulevard. Location: Stanton, California. Number of collisions 7.
- Avenida Pico and Route 5. Location: Clemente, California. Number of collisions 7.
- Camino Capistrano and Via De Anza. Location: San Juan Capistrano, California. Number of collisions 6.
- Alicia Parkway and Route 5. Location: Mission Viejo, California. Number of collisions 6.
- Crown Valley Parkway and Puerta Real. Location: Mission Viejo, California. Number of collisions 6.
- El Toro Road and Trabuco Road. Location: Lake Forest, California. Number of collisions 6.
- Alicia Parkway and Charlinda Drive. Location: Mission Viejo, California. Number of collisions 6.
As you can see, Mission Viejo is listed no less than six times and Santon is listed three times on a list of the thirteen most dangerous Orange County intersections. Needless to say, it’s wise to practice defensive driving and to observe all the rules of the road when you’re commuting or traveling in and out of the county. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident and need a car accident lawyer, it’s imperative you speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible to be advised of your legal options and to learn about possible compensation. Don’t delay because the law strictly limits your time to take action.
