College Drive is Suffolk’s Worse Crash Hotspot 

In recent years the City of Suffolk has seen a spate of deadly crashes on rural roads and major trucking routes. However, suburban roads in Northeast Suffolk dominate the 2021 list of the city’s most dangerous intersections and crash hotspots. A survey derived from Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles stats finds College Drive is Suffolk’s worst crash hotspot.

The busy intersection between Western Branch Boulevard and College Drive was the scene of the most wrecks in Suffolk in 2021 when first responders attended 25 incidents. The intersection is close to Churchland in Portsmouth and Western Branch in Chesapeake. It involves potentially-hazardous right turns and drivers often try to run red lights.

Other Dangerous Intersections in Suffolk

Drivers also struggle at the intersection between Holland Road and Staley Drive near downtown Suffolk. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ stats suggests this is a high crash location with 21 recorded accidents in 2021. The third most hazardous location last year was also in Northeast Suffolk. The junction of Bridge Road and Harbour View Boulevard was the scene of 20 crashes.

The fourth most hazardous intersection in Suffolk in 2021 was Portsmouth Boulevard and Suburban Drive with 14 accidents. A further 12 wrecks were reported on College Drive and University Boulevard, also in Northeast Suffolk.

Nearby Bridge Road and Hampton Roads Beltway saw 12 wrecks, while 10 occurred at the junction of Bridge Road and Breezeport Way. Three of the top accident blackspots were on Bridge Road, a highway that has become increasingly congested during morning and evening commutes as the corridor has been built up. Godwin Boulevard near Sentra Obici Hospital is another busy, high-accident corridor. The intersection between Godwin Boulevard and Corporate Lane saw 10 wrecks in 2021.

Hazardous Roads in Hampton Roads

As well as hazardous intersections, some major roads in Suffolk are among the most dangerous in Hampton Roads. They include Route 460 (Pruden Boulevard) and Route 58. In May, a passenger died when the car she was traveling in overturned on Pruden Boulevard.

In 2017, Suffolk’s road accident death rate was the highest in the Tidewater area. Thirteen motorists lost their lives in the City of Suffolk in 2021. Police responded to 1,748 wrecks and 1,225 people suffered injuries. The death rate per driver of 0.19 is higher than that of Virginia Beach even though the largest city in the state recorded 34 deaths. Portsmouth and Norfolk had even higher death rates in 2021.

Common Causes of Road Deaths

Drunk and drugged driving caused 71 wrecks and two deaths in Suffolk last year, as well as 248 injuries. Speeding was even more devastating. Excess speed caused 234 accidents, three deaths, and 517 injuries. Three of the victims were not wearing seatbelts at the time of their deaths.

Although distracted and drunk driving are major menaces on the highways of Hampton Roads, excess speed is an even more significant factor. Last year, speed-related wrecks rose by 9.5 percent in Virginia to 24,620. Suffolk was the only jurisdiction in Hampton Roads to record more than five fatal crashes caused by distracted drivers.

Contact Our Lawyers for Traffic Crashes

The rising number of deaths on the highways of Virginia remains a major concern for our Suffolk personal injury lawyers. Every day, drivers and passengers, truckers, cyclists, and pedestrians are suffering terrible injuries due to inconsiderate, drunk, or speeding motorists. If you or a family member has been injured in a car crash, please call us for a free consultation. Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers’ attorneys can meet you at our Suffolk location or another place of your choice.