The Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Lafayette
LAFAYETTE, La. - If you've driven around Lafayette, you know some roads can test your patience. Between shopping traffic, busy intersections, construction, and drivers trying to squeeze into the next lane, getting across town can frustrating, and dangerous.
Several Lafayette area roads have been identified in local traffic safety talks as places where drivers need to pay extra attention.
From Ambassador Caffery Parkway to the busy I-10 and I-49 interchange, here's a closer look at five Lafayette roads and intersections that deserve extra caution.
Laborde and Earles' website onyourside.com has taken a look at data reported by NHTSA and The Louisiana Highway Safety Commision, and after crunching the numbers there are a few places in Lafayette that keep showing up when it comes to total crash frequency.
The data reported doesn't just identify the most dangerous roads in Lafayette, but in some cases pinpoints several spots on these roads where driver's repeatedly run into problems, pun intended.
READ MORE: Crash Data Shows Lafayette's Most 'Crashable' Intersections
1. Ambassador Caffery Parkway
Ambassador Caffery runs past shopping centers, restaurants, businesses, and numerous entrances where drivers are constantly turning in and out of traffic. Add rush hour congestion, and it's easy to see why drivers need to stay alert.
The three intersections that are the biggest problem areas are:
Ambassador Caffery & Johnston Street
Ambassador Caffery & Kaliste Saloom Road
Ambassador Caffery & Congress Street
2. Johnston Street (U.S. Highway 167)
With vehicles entering and leaving businesses throughout the day, traffic conditions can change quickly. Drivers also need to watch for pedestrians and cyclists, especially around areas with heavier foot traffic.
The major problem areas are:
Johnston Street & University Avenue
Johnston Street & Ambassador Caffery Parkway
Johnston Street near UL Lafayette
3. The I-10 and I-49 Interchange
The I-10 and I-49 interchange is an important connection for people traveling through Lafayette, whether they're commuting, heading across Louisiana or passing through Acadiana.
Unlike a busy shopping street, interstate interchanges bring their own challenges. Drivers must make decisions at higher speeds while navigating merging traffic, exit ramps and changing lanes.
This interchange repeatedly sees crashes due to:
Vehicles merging at highway speeds
Traffic entering and exiting the interstate
Sudden slowdowns and congestion
Commercial trucks sharing the roadway
READ MORE: 6 Crucial Louisiana Speeding Laws You Need to Know
4. Kaliste Saloom Road
Kaliste Saloom Road serves residential neighborhoods, businesses and other destinations throughout Lafayette. The area around Ambassador Caffery is especially worth being extra cautious when traffic builds.
5. Pinhook Road
Pinhook can become fairly dicey when vehicles are turning, changing lanes, or slowing to enter driveways. The super narrow lanes increase the possibility of side-impact collisions. Couple this with Pinhook usually having pretty heavy traffic and the likelihood of crashes is higher than other streets around Lafayette.
Louisiana's crash data is maintained by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, with the LSU Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety processing and reporting the information.
If you're interested in the data, you can visit the Louisiana DOTD Safety Data & Analysis page.
Which Lafayette Road Do You Find the Most Frustrating?
Whether you're navigating Ambassador Caffery during the afternoon rush or trying to merge onto I-10, most Lafayette drivers probably have a road that makes them a little nervous.
Be careful out there!
If Lafayette Streets Could Talk, This Is What They'd Tell You
Gallery Credit: Michael Scott