U.S. Highway 90 cuts straight through the heart of the west bank of St. Charles Parish. The highway is an inescapable daily reality for residents of Des Allemands, Paradis, Mozella, Boutte, and Luling, and natives of Hahnville, Ama, and Killona often find themselves as drivers or passengers on the heavily traveled roadway.
To go along with the heavy traffic, the red lights, the big trucks, and the inattentive drivers, Highway 90 has something else: the title of “Most Dangerous Highway in Louisiana.”Geotab, a technology company providing fleet management solutions to help manage drivers and vehicles, released a study on “The Most Dangerous Highways in America”.
With a fatal crash rate of 1.2, over 270 total crashes, and 295 fatalities during the review period, Highway 90 topped the list as the most dangerous highway in Louisiana.
Highway 90 ranked 5th worst for total fatalities, 7th most in total crashes, and 11th for fatal crash rate.Louisiana’s road safety trends show hopeful signs, but dangers persist on major highways. In 2023, the state recorded 811 traffic deaths, a decrease of 10.5% from 2022’s 906 fatalities. While promising, the fatality rate, about 1.46 deaths per 100 million vehicle‑miles, remains among the nation’s highest.
Louisiana’s Highway Safety Picture
- Pedestrian fatalities dropped nearly 20%, to 147.
- Bicycle fatalities fell from 44 to 35.
- Alcohol‑related fatalities decreased by 13.3% to 195.
- Motorcycle deaths rose slightly, from 90 to 98 (including mopeds and autocycles).
Seat belt usage hit an all‑time high of about 88.4%.
Distracted driving remains a major concern, accounting for roughly 22% of 2023 fatalities.
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FREE Confidential Case Review (985) 240-9773Why US 90 Still Stands Out
US Highway 90 continues to be Louisiana’s deadliest road. A decade‑long federal data review shows it averages about 27 fatal crashes per year, resulting in nearly 300 deaths. Its fatal crash rate, about 1.2 per 100 million vehicle‑miles, is the highest in the state. That earned US 90 the title of “deadliest highway in Louisiana”.
Why US 90 Is So Dangerous
- Mix of at‑grade intersections, driveways, and nearby commercial zones leads to unpredictable merging and rear‑end crashes
- Despite heavy traffic, much of US 90 lacks controlled-access design, unlike I‑10, which uses medians and grade separation
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FREE Confidential Case Review (985) 240-9773How US 90 Compares with Other Major Routes
| Route | Avg. Annual Fatalities | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I‑10 | ≈31 | High volume & speeds, especially near Baton Rouge |
| US 61 (Airline Hwy) | ≈31 | A busy corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, with many at‑grade intersections |
| I‑20 | ≈24 | Key North LA route (Texas–Shreveport–Vicksburg) |
| US 190 | ≈22 | Opelousas–Slidell route, heavy commuter and truck use |
US 90’s 27‑fatal crash average keeps it on par with I‑10 and US 61, though it remains unmatched in fatality rate when adjusted for traffic volumes.
As many local residents do, my family and I have personal experience driving on and being involved in a crash on Highway 90 here in St. Charles Parish. As Louisiana car accident lawyers, we can attest to the dangers of the highway, and it seems to get busier by the day.
Please stay safe out there if you travel Highway 90 or any other roadway.
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FREE Confidential Case Review (985) 240-9773Safe Driving Tips on Highway 90
I wanted to follow up this post with a few safe-driving tips that may help you stay out of danger on Highway 90 through St. Charles Parish or on any other roadway.
1. Focus on driving
- 100% of your attention is on driving at all times – no texting, calling, playing with the radio, etc.
- No Facebook, YouTube, SnapChat, Instagram or Twitter while driving – and please, no car selfies!
2. Drive “defensively”
- Don’t Speed – speeding gives you less time to react and increases the severity of an accident.
- Keep a lookout – stay aware of what other drivers around you are doing, and expect the unexpected.
- Assume craziness – and always be prepared to avoid it.
- Don’t tailgate – 2 seconds behind the car in front of you (4 seconds in rain)
- Don’t Take Chances
3. Plan ahead
- Build time into your trip schedule to stop for food, rest breaks, phone calls or other business.
- Adjust your seat, mirrors, and climate controls before putting the car in gear.
- Pull over to eat or drink. It takes only a few minutes.
4. Practice safety
- Don’t attempt to retrieve items that fall to the floor.
- Have items needed within easy reach.
- Always wear your seat belt and drive sober and drug-free.
- Keep kids in car seats or booster seats according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
While nothing can really guarantee your safety while traveling on the highway, abiding by these tips can help reduce your chances of being involved in an accident.
Highway 90 is a significant transportation corridor for the oil and gas and petrochemical industries, leading to not only auto accidents, but many serious truck accidents occur on Highway 90 as well.
Our team is regularly works on injury and wrongful death cases for crashes and collisions that occurred on Highway 90 in St. Charles Parish and across the state of Louisiana. If you or your loved one was injured on Highway 90, you need a Louisiana personal injury lawyer who knows the area and the highway to represent you. Give us a call today at 985-240-9773.
Sources: Geotab, Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, NHTSA’s FARS data, LSU CARTS, GoodCar.com.
