CALIFORNIA - If you live in California, you know that traffic is a lifestyle. But while the 405 is annoying, it isn't usually lethal because you're moving at 5 mph. The real danger lies to the east. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, the stretch of Interstate 15 running through San Bernardino County is not just the deadliest road in California—it is frequently ranked as the deadliest highway stretch in the United States.
It is the primary artery to Las Vegas, meaning it is filled with high speeds, distracted tourists, and exhausted drivers coming home from a weekend of partying. But it isn't the only danger zone. From the "Tule Fog" of the Central Valley to the chaotic intersections of South LA, here are the red zones you need to watch out for in 2026.
1. The "Vegas Run": I-15 (San Bernardino County)
If you drive to Vegas on a Friday, you are entering a combat zone. The stretch from Hesperia to the Nevada border (specifically around the Cajon Pass and Victorville) is statistically terrifying.
The Danger Zone:
- The Statistic: This corridor often sees over 80+ fatalities in a short window. The segment near Hesperia (Exits 129-138) is particularly lethal.
- The "Cajon Pass" Factor: Steep grades mean trucks are struggling to climb while cars weave around them at 80 mph. On the way down, brake failures and runaway trucks are a real risk.
- The Weekend Warrior: Sunday traffic returning to LA often includes hungover, tired, or distracted drivers operating on little sleep. Reaction times here are significantly slower than average.
2. The Intersection List: 2 Spots to Watch
While freeways get the headlines, California's surface streets are becoming increasingly dangerous for pedestrians and drivers.
A. S. Figueroa St & Slauson Ave (South Los Angeles)
This intersection consistently ranks as the #1 most dangerous intersection in Los Angeles based on crash data.
- The Problem: It is a massive, high-volume crossroads near the 110 Freeway.
- The Risk: High speeds on Figueroa meet frustrated turning traffic on Slauson. The result is a staggering number of T-bone collisions and pedestrian strikes.
B. Market Street & Octavia Blvd (San Francisco)
In the Bay Area, the end of the Central Freeway creates a unique hazard.
- The Design: Highway traffic dumps directly onto a city grid. Drivers used to freeway speeds suddenly find themselves in a complex intersection with cyclists and pedestrians.
- The Danger: Illegal right turns and confused drivers trying to navigate the "Octavia Boulevard" grid lead to constant fender benders and cyclist injuries.
3. The Seasonal Killer: "Tule Fog" (Central Valley)
If you drive I-5 or Highway 99 through the Central Valley (Fresno, Bakersfield, Sacramento) in winter, you face a danger that kills more people than tornadoes.
- The Phenomenon: Tule Fog. It is a thick, ground-level fog that forms on clear, cold winter nights.
- The Danger: Visibility drops from 5 miles to zero in less than 10 feet.
- The Result: Massive "chain reaction" pileups involving 50+ cars are tragically common here.
- The Rule: If you see the "Fog Ahead" signs flashing on Highway 99, believe them. Do not use your high beams (they reflect off the fog and blind you).
4. The "Blood Alley": SR-138 (Pearblossom Highway)
No list of California dangers is complete without the Pearblossom Highway in the Antelope Valley.
- The History: It earned the name "Blood Alley" in the 60s, and despite improvements, it remains dangerous.
- The Risk: It is a high-speed, two-lane desert road used by people bypassing LA traffic. Impatient drivers attempting unsafe passes into oncoming traffic is the primary cause of head-on collisions here.
How to Survive the Drive
- Stay Awake on I-15: If you are driving back from Vegas, take a break in Barstow. Driving drowsily on the Cajon Pass is a gamble you will lose.
- Wait at Green in South LA: If you are at Figueroa & Slauson, do not hit the gas the second the light turns green. Look left and right for red-light runners first.
- Get Off the Road in Fog: If Tule Fog hits, pull off the highway completely (into a gas station, not just the shoulder). Being stopped on the shoulder of I-5 in zero visibility is a death trap.