The premier news source for Snohomish County

A new study by Dallas-based legal team The Barber Law Firm reveals that State Route-99 is the deadliest of routes in Washington.

The study analyzed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data from 2018 to 2022 to determine which state routes had the highest average yearly fatalities and are thus the deadliest routes.

The route with the most deaths was State Route-99, which saw an average of 16.0 fatalities per year over the five-year period that was measured. In total, there were 80 deaths recorded on the route in the time period, from 76 fatal crashes, and the worst year for fatalities was 2022, when 20 deaths occurred.

State Route-20 comes in second place with an average of 9.0 fatalities. Between 2018 and 2022, there were 43 fatal crashes, which resulted in 45 deaths. 2020 was the worst year when 15 crashes resulted in 15 deaths.

In third place is State Route-7, where there has been an average of 8.4 fatalities between 2018 and 2022. With 13 fatalities caused by 13 accidents, 2022 was the deadliest year. Further down on the list, State Route-167 takes fourth place with 6.6 average yearly fatalities, while State Route-14 closes the top five with 6.2 average deaths.

Kris Barber, founder of The Barber Law Firm, commented on the findings: “The data shows that in all states, certain routes must be approached with more caution than others. Be it because of more intense traffic or the configuration of the road, this data can be a warning and a starting point for drivers to pay more attention.

“To stay safe while on the road, remember to keep focus only on driving and always keep your speed within the limits, as speeding gives you less time to react and increases the severity of an accident. Lastly, be extra careful when doing tasks that might seem basic such as changing lanes. Cutting in front of someone, changing too fast, or not using your signals may cause an accident or incite road rage.”

The full table of deadliest routes in the United States:

SOURCE: https://www.thebarberlawfirm.com/.

Author: Lynnwood Times Staff