These Are Illinois’ Deadliest Roads, According to New Crash Data

Illinois drivers spend a lot of time talking about traffic, congestion, construction, and backups that never seem to end. But new crash data offers a more serious look at where the real dangers are on our roads.

A nationwide analysis of nearly 130,000 fatal crashes found that the deadliest accidents don’t happen where many drivers assume they do. Interstates get the reputation for being dangerous, but the data suggest something else entirely, and Illinois follows some of that same pattern.

Where Fatal Crashes Happen Most Often in Illinois

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Over a five-year period, Illinois recorded 5,524 fatal crashes. When broken down by road type, the largest share occurred on state highways (37%), followed by local streets (26%), interstates (21%), and U.S. highways (16%).

That matters because state highways often combine higher speeds with intersections, mixed traffic, and less separation between vehicles… a combination that can quickly turn unforgiving.

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The Deadliest Roads in Illinois

When the data is narrowed down to individual roads, a familiar list emerges. These are the Illinois roads with the highest number of fatal crashes over the five-year span:

1. I-55 (108 crashes)
2. I-57 (106)
3. I-94 (82)
4. I-80 (56)
5. I-290 (42)
6. US-45 (38)
7. I-90 (36)
8. I-74 (35)
9. SR-3 (33)
10. I-294 (31)

Why This Data Is Sobering

Many of these roads are part of everyday life for Illinois drivers. They’re familiar, heavily traveled, and easy to take for granted, which is exactly what makes the numbers hard to ignore.

See the Full Study

This data comes from a broader nationwide analysis using federal crash records. You can view the full state-by-state breakdown and methodology directly from iSelect by visiting their interactive report linked HERE.

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