Reno is a vibrant city experiencing exciting growth, but with that growth comes persistent safety challenges on our roads. Every day, thousands of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists share our city’s major thoroughfares. Understanding where and why the most severe accidents happen is the first step toward greater safety at Reno’s most dangerous intersections.
Intersections are inherently dangerous. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that nearly 25% of all traffic fatalities occur at intersections. To support our community and promote cautious driving, we have conducted a detailed analysis of public safety data on fatal intersection accidents from 2019 to 2023. While fatal risk is ultimately a random combination of factors, our research revealed a series of clusters across the Greater Reno-Sparks area where fatal accidents appear more likely to occur.
This guide presents that data, ranks the highest-risk traffic corridors, and provides actionable defensive driving strategies.
Uncovering the “Rings of Risk” in Reno
To provide a thorough assessment of intersection danger, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of publicly available data.
Our Research Process: We analyzed fatal crash data using the National Highway Traffic Administration’s Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST) with a strict focus on incidents that occurred at intersections in the Greater Reno-Sparks Area between 2019 and 2023.
Our Core Data Discovery: Our analysis of 29 fatal intersection crashes revealed a complex picture of traffic risk.
- Systemic Distribution: At first glance, the risk appears universal. Fatalities occurred in nearly every corner of the region, proving that no neighborhood is entirely immune to severe traffic incidents. Notably, the data showed zero repeat locations.
- High-Intensity Clusters: When mapped, distinct Rings of Risk emerge. While the crashes are widely distributed, they are not evenly spread. Over 50% of these incidents are concentrated into five high-intensity “Lethal Clusters” that circle the city’s core.
Analysis of Fatal Crash Corridors
While no single intersection claimed more than one life in this period, the data shows that the risk is heavily concentrated along several major thoroughfares. These corridors recorded the highest frequency of fatal incidents and represent the most dangerous stretches of road in Reno.
| Rank | Corridor Name | Fatal Crash Count (2019-2023) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North/South McCarran Boulevard | 8 Incidents |
| 2 | East/West 4th Street | 4 Incidents |
| 3 (Tied) | El Rancho Drive | 2 Incidents |
| 3 (Tied) | Oddie Boulevard | 2 Incidents |
| 3 (Tied) | Sullivan Lane | 2 Incidents |
| 3 (Tied) | Valley Road | 2 Incidents |
| 3 (Tied) | West Moana Lane | 2 Incidents |
Source: National Highway Traffic Administration
The data indicate that high-velocity thoroughfares like McCarran Boulevard and 4th Street remain the most dangerous corridors in the region, collectively accounting for nearly 40% of all fatal intersection incidents in our study. These corridors often feature higher speed limits, complex multi-lane turns, and outdated signalization, all of which multiply the force of a crash and reduce the window for driver error.
The Five Fatal Hotspots
- The West McCarran Gateway: Caughlin Parkway; Caughlin Parkway and South McCarran Boulevard; West 4th Street and South McCarran Boulevard.
- The East 4th-Valley Hub: East 6th Street and Valley Road; East 4th Street and Valley Road; East 4th Street and Sutro Street.
- The Kietzke-Wells Connector: South Wells Avenue and Vassar Street; Yori Avenue and Bresson Avenue; South Kietzke Lane and East Taylor Street.
- The Moana-Virginia Retail Junction: Lakeside Drive and West Moana Lane; Lakeside Drive and South McCarran Boulevard; South Virginia Street and West Moana Lane.
- The Sparks-Reno Connector: Oddie Boulevard and Sullivan Lane; Byrd Drive and Sullivan Lane; Oddie Boulevard and El Rancho Drive; G Street and El Rancho Drive.
Driver Behavior and Aging Infrastructure as Root Causes
Understanding the root causes of Reno’s intersection collisions can help you become a safer driver and is vital for proving liability in a wrongful death claim.
Leading Driver Behaviors
According to the Official Driver Handbook of Nevada, the most common cause of intersection accidents is a failure to yield the right-of-way. Whether you are yielding to a vehicle already in the intersection or giving space to a cyclist in a dedicated lane, these rules exist to eliminate the split-second indecision that leads to a crash.
Other primary factors contributing to severe collisions include:
- Impairment and Distraction: This includes distracted driving (such as using a mobile phone) and driving under the influence (DUIs).
- Speeding: Excessive speed drastically reduces a driver’s reaction time and multiplies the force of a crash, making T-bone collisions far more likely to result in a fatality.
Actionable Safety Strategies for Reno’s Most Dangerous Intersection
Given the Rings of Risk we identified, defensive driving and patience are the most powerful tools you possess. By shifting your focus to practicing defensive awareness on all roads, you directly mitigate your risk of a severe crash.
Performing Safe Unprotected Left Turns
Turning left at a normal green light across oncoming traffic, also known as an unprotected left turn, is exceptionally risky. To make this maneuver safely, adopt this tactical guide:
- Rule of Patience: Wait for oncoming traffic to completely clear before proceeding. Waiting for a break is always the safest choice.
- Stall-Point: If the light has been green for a long time (a “stale green”), be ready for it to change immediately. Never rush a turn in a moment of uncertainty.
Practicing Defensive Driving at All Intersections
- Never Assume Right of Way: Even with a green light or a stop sign, always be prepared to yield.
- Full Stop Protocol: Always come to a complete stop at stop signs.
- Proactive Scanning: Before you enter or cross any intersection, perform a visual scan of the road left and right to confirm that all cross-traffic is stopping.
Navigating Reno's Most Dangerous Intersections with Defensive Awareness
Staying safe in Reno’s most dangerous intersections requires an active approach and a conscious safety strategy. By following the tactical safety strategies above, you are taking proactive control of your well-being.
But even the most defensive drivers can be the victims of unfortunate accidents. If you or a family member has been injured in a serious accident because of another driver’s failure to yield, speeding, or distraction, know that we are here to help. You could be facing mounting medical bills and lost wages, and you deserve a car accident lawyer who understands Nevada law and is ready to fight for your financial recovery and accountability.
We offer a Free Consultation to review your case, and we work on a contingency fee basis, which means NO FEE unless WE WIN!