According to a recent study performed by State Farm Insurance, Sacramento County has the dubious distinction of having one of the country's most dangerous roadway intersections. The intersection of Watt Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard -- both major arteries -- was found to be the third most dangerous intersection in the State of California, and the seventh most dangerous in the United States as a whole.

Intersections, as a general rule, are more dangerous than other areas of roadways because of the obvious dangers presented by crossing traffic lanes, turning vehicles, and the need for speed changes or halts at stoplights. This study highlights the fact that not all motor vehicle accidents are entirely the responsibility of the involved drivers. In many instances, defects in the design and construction of roadways will be a cause or contributing factor in collisions. Roads designed with inadequate lines of sight for the posted speed limits, malfunctioning or improperly timed traffic signals, or improperly placed (or missing) stop signs, yield signs, and other traffic signs, and worn or damaged roadway markings are just a few of the defects in our roads which can lead to unsafe driving conditions and collisions.

Other dangerous intersections in the City of Sacramento, according to a 1998 study, include:

Mack Road and Valley Hi Drive

College Town Drive and Howe Avenue

El Camino Avenue and Evergreen Street

12th and I Streets

29th and T Streets

Howe Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard

Rio Linda Boulevard and Grand Avenue

19th and W Streets

Stockton Boulevard and 47th Avenue

If you reside in California and would like to see information on current motor vehicle accidents and traffic hazards in your area, please follow this link:

In those instances where roadway defects have caused or contributed to a collision and injury, a determination must be made whether a claim should be filed against the public entity that owns the roadway (usually a state or municipal government), and ultimately whether or not that public entity should be named as a defendant in a lawsuit.

All of us have heard of intersections or stretches of roadway with reputations for dangerous driving conditions. It seems that every region has its own "Blood Alley" roads. If the accident statistics actually show a higher accident rate for these roads and intersections than they should have, have your local and state governments take action to identify and correct the problems.

To view sample images of some of these areas, try visiting: