Mark W. Mathys | May 9, 2023 | Car Accidents
In 2021, there were 295,605 car accidents in Illinois. Of those, the Illinois Highway Safety Plan Annual Report found that 1,876 occurred in Naperville, IL. This means that less than 1% of all Illinois accidents happened in a city that contains more than 1% of the population of Illinois. This makes Naperville a proportionately safe place to drive.
Despite these good numbers, though, there are still dangerous places to drive around the city. Indeed, Naperville is crossed by several interstate and state highways. Some of these roads are infamous for having high numbers of car accidents.
If you live, work, or regularly travel in the Naperville area, you should be aware of which highways are the most dangerous. This knowledge can help you avoid the highest-risk roads at peak times when your travel plans allow.
IL-59
The most dangerous highway in or near the city is the north-south highway, IL-59. Running between Interstate 55 and Interstate 88, it is a common road for traveling within the city. Its popularity is due in part to the fact that it is the easiest way to get to the Fox Valley Mall.
The most dangerous portion of this highway is the intersection between IL-59 and I-88. There were 73 accidents at that intersection in 2015, and that number has only grown since then.
If you are traveling north-south near Naperville, you should consider taking Eola Rd instead. It will add a little extra time to your trip, but it is often a much safer route. In addition, you can use it to reach Fox Valley Mall from E. New York St., Aurora Ave, or McCoy Dr.
I-88
As previously noted, the intersection where this highway meets IL-59 is one of the most dangerous locations in the city. But that doesn’t mean it is the only dangerous place on the highway.
I-88 runs along the northern edge of the city, and it has several exchanges with roads that people regularly use to access major locations within Naperville. This creates multiple areas of heavy traffic in a short stretch of highway.
If you need to travel on I-88, you should avoid this stretch during times of the day or the week when the road is crowded. Rush hours and weekends are particularly dangerous periods when you might want to consider an alternate route.
I-355
This highway presents a danger to drivers for similar reasons that IL-59 does: it is another north-south connector between two major interstates that runs by a popular shopping center. Furthermore, I-355 also connects to several local roads that lead to residential areas. This means that slower traffic is getting on the road, and cars need to slow down to get off.
While this route between I-55 and I-88 is typically safer than IL-59, you should avoid it during peak shopping hours. In the evening and on weekends, there is a considerable amount of traffic traveling between the residential areas and the Promenade Bolingbrook.
The best way to avoid that traffic is to use local roads. Both Woodward Ave. and Janes Ave. run parallel to I-355. They are slower roads, but you are less likely to have an accident on them.
Choose Your Route Carefully When Driving in Naperville, IL
Naperville has relatively safe roads, but this doesn’t mean there are no car accidents in the city. When traveling locally, check the traffic situation and avoid any cluttered highways.
The last thing you want is to become a car accident statistic. Following these tips can help you stay safe and drive carefully when traveling in or around the Naperville area.
Contact the Naperville Car Accident Law Firm Of the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid for Help Today
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, please call a Naperville car accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid for a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer or contact us online.
Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid1730 Park St #209, Naperville, IL 60563(630) 428-4040