If you live in Atlanta or spend a lot of time there for work, you’re likely no stranger to how bad traffic can get, but do you know which intersections are considered the most dangerous in Atlanta?
Knowing which roads and intersections see the most accidents can help you make safer decisions when you get behind the wheel. While our legal team serves all of Georgia, Atlanta is our home base, which means we are all too familiar with the accidents that happen in this area, both as professionals and as locals.
Our Atlanta car accident lawyers created this guide to help keep the community safe. It covers recent crash data and safety reports, revealing which locations in the city continue to rank as the highest-risk spots for accidents and what you can do to protect yourself and your passengers.
What Makes an Intersection Dangerous?
There isn’t one single thing that makes an intersection dangerous in Atlanta, or anywhere. It’s usually a mix of things, which can include:
- Heavily trafficked or congested areas.
- Confusing lane patterns.
- Left turns across fast-moving traffic, especially across multiple lanes.
- Lane merges near busy intersections.
- Aggressive driving behaviors, such as speeding and running red lights at intersections.
- Confusing bike lanes at intersections or a lack of clarity concerning who has the right-of-way.
- Poor intersection design.
- Busy intersections with pedestrian crossings.
- Distracted driving in heavily trafficked areas.
- Poor road maintenance (i.e., lots of potholes, faded road markings, missing signs, etc).
- Bad weather in a heavily trafficked area (i.e., rain, fog, snow, ice, etc.)
Any combination of the above can lead to a higher crash rate in busy areas like those found across Atlanta. It’s never usually just one thing, but a mix of things that contribute to a higher number of accidents being reported.
If you need help determining fault or the cause of an accident you were involved in, speak with an Atlanta car accident lawyer. They can evaluate your case and help you build a strong defense against the at-fault party, ensuring you are fairly compensated for your losses and injuries.
The Most Dangerous Intersections Across Atlanta
Recent data from the Department of Transportation’s Georgia crash data portal shows several locations across Atlanta with high numbers of reported accidents in 2024, including:
- I‑20 and I‑285 Interchange (285 crashes): This massive highway interchange on Atlanta’s west side is one of the busiest and most complicated in the state. Multiple entrance and exit ramps, lane switches, and high-speed traffic contribute to its high crash rate.
- I‑75 and University Avenue (184 crashes): Located south of downtown Atlanta, this intersection connects a major interstate with a heavily trafficked city road.
- I‑75 and Edgewood Avenue (130 crashes): This downtown corridor sees dense vehicle and pedestrian traffic, with on/off-ramp activity and short merge lanes. Construction in the area has also added to the confusion at times, increasing crash risk.
- I‑85 and Peachtree Street (110 crashes): This intersection is in a high-density commercial area where freeway traffic meets one of Atlanta’s most well-known and used roads.
- Marietta Street NW and Northside Drive (110 crashes): This West Midtown intersection connects major event venues (like Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Georgia Tech) with residential neighborhoods. It’s often crowded, especially during concerts or games.
Other notable intersections that are dangerous in Atlanta include Ellis Street NE and Cortland Street NE, Lenox Road NE and Buford Highway NE, as well as I-20 at Moreland Avenue and Memorial Drive SE at Moreland Avenue, all with between 50 and 100 crashes.
How to Drive Smarter Through Atlanta’s Most Dangerous Intersections
While you can’t control what other drivers do, you can make your own choices to reduce the risk of being involved in an accident. Below are a few ways you can keep yourself and others safer on the road:
- Slow down early when you see a green light ahead: If the light has been green for a while, it’s likely to change soon.
- Keep a safe distance from the car in front of you: Leaving extra space gives you time to react to sudden stops, lane changes, or cars making unexpected turns.
- Do not speed up to beat a yellow light: Accelerating through a yellow often puts you in the intersection just as other drivers are starting their turn, which is how many T-bone crashes happen.
- Look both ways before you go on green: Even after your light changes, pause briefly to make sure no one is running the red light.
- Watch for pedestrians and people on bikes: Areas near MARTA stops, bus routes, schools, and retail corridors often have heavy foot traffic, and some pedestrians will step out quickly or cross outside of marked areas.
- Be extra cautious when turning left: Making a left turn at Atlanta’s most dangerous intersections can easily lead to an accident because you are crossing in front of fast-moving traffic.
- Limit distractions before you reach the intersection: Avoid checking navigation apps, fiddling with the music, or reading text messages when approaching a busy intersection. All it takes is one second of inattention to cause an accident.
Despite your best efforts, accidents can still happen, especially when another driver is behaving recklessly. If you are involved in an accident and need help filing a personal injury claim to recover damages, one of our car accident lawyers in Atlanta can assist you.
Talk to Our Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers About Your Options
If you were injured at one of Atlanta’s dangerous intersections, John Foy & Associates can help. Known as the The Strong Arm™ in Georgia, we have a record of helping injured accident victims get the results they deserve, with over $1 billion recovered in injury claim settlements.
We work on a contingency-fee basis, which means there are no upfront costs. If you’d like to speak with someone about your accident and what comes next, contact us for a free consultation.
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