Truck driving is one of the riskiest jobs in the U.S., but the majority of professional drivers get through their careers without being involved in major accidents. The more skilled and safety conscious drivers are, the less likely they are to cause wrecks.
But some things, like road designs, are out of a driver’s control. Based on driver experiences, U.S. Department of Transportation data and harsh weather, these are the top ten U.S. roads that truckers should avoid whenever possible.
U.S. Highway 2 in Montana
According to the University of Minnesota, U.S. Highway 2 (US-2) in Montana has the highest traffic death rate compared to the rest of the highway. Winter weather conditions make it particularly dangerous.
This 760-mile stretch of US-2 — from the Washington state line to just east of Bainville — is prone to high winds, blizzards and black ice. It runs through extremely rural areas that are far apart from each other. The emergency response time of ambulances averages 80 minutes. Because of the limited population, there is not much traffic and so people tend to drive fast.
U.S. Highway 550 in Colorado (The Million Dollar Highway)
The Million Dollar Highway is the portion of U.S. Highway 550 in Colorado, from Ouray to Silverton. It got its name because it cost a million dollars to build it all the way back in the 1880s.
This 25-mile stretch of the highway has many twists and turns through the mountains, ascending to an elevation of up to 11,000 feet. The weather in this part of the country can be erratic, with frequent snow, ice and high winds several months of the year. What makes this stretch of US-550 especially dangerous for truckers is the lack of shoulders or guardrails, and the drop-off can be extremely steep.
This should be closed immediately and destroyed. If anyone attempts to use it arrested and fined. Save lives stop road rash.
I feel totally unsafe. Dr. Scott Atlas has resigned.