Reasons for Accidents on the 5 Freeway in CA, OR, and WA

Interstate 5 is considered one of the most dangerous highways in the United States, with a fatality rate of 13.47 deaths per 100 miles. Between 150 and 200 people lose their lives in a 5 Freeway accident every year. What exactly makes this 1400 mile highway so dangerous?

Interstate 5, also known as The 5 Freeway, the West Side Freeway or the Pacific Highway, runs along the entire west coast from Southern California through Oregon and Washington state. Construction of the highway began in 1956, and this popular route travels through Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. Travelers can also gain access to Tijuana, Mexico to the south and Vancouver, Canada to the north. Travel along the 5 Freeway is unavoidable for many people, but difficult terrain and extreme congestion make this highway one of the most deadly in the nation.

Over 200,000 people travel the I-5 every day for both work and pleasure. This means that there are 200,000 vehicles with the potential to cause a fatal accident swarming the highway every single day. This potential is only increased when the following dangers are considered:

Commercial Trucks. The 5 Freeway is frequently used by commercial vehicles and semi-trucks. While truck drivers have strict rules they must follow, the weight of their vehicles combined with high speeds, long working hours and lack of sleep means that when an accident happens, it often leads to catastrophic damages. Semi-trucks cannot maneuver as quickly as smaller motor vehicles, and if they are put in a position where they need to stop due to a hazard ahead or someone breaking too quickly in front of them, they can’t always stop in time to avoid a crash. There have also been many instances of semi-trucks being poorly loaded, which leads to trucks carrying too much weight or unbalanced cargo. This makes trucks an even greater risk to the smaller cars surrounding them. Trucks also have large blind spots which means they may not be able to see vehicles beside them; this can be disastrous if a truck then tries to change lanes.
Bad Weather. The Pacific Coast may be beautiful, but it can experience some very bad weather. Especially as the elevation increases north of Los Angeles, inclement weather is a common concern. Heavy rain and snow plagues areas within the Tejon Pass and The Grapevine. This makes roads slick and visibility low. These factors increase the risk of a driver losing control, resulting in sometimes deadly consequences.
Low Visibility. Precipitation isn’t the only cause of low visibility. Dust storms in the Grapevine area can create black-out conditions for those traveling along the Interstate. High winds have also been known to push cars around, sometimes pushing them into other vehicles or off the road completely. Additionally, a car being tormented by the wind is at risk of overcorrection. Thick fog accumulates in the valleys along the 5 Freeway, drastically reducing visibility in those areas. It is imperative that drivers slow down and stay alert when their visibility is impaired.
Steepness. Elevation changes through the Grapevine section of Tejon Pass result in a 5 mile stretch of highway with an incredibly steep grade. The rapid decline causes drivers to ride their brakes to avoid going too fast, which then puts wear on a vehicle, and especially their brake pads. If brakes give out completely then you are faced with a runaway vehicle. This is especially common in semi-trucks who are already weighed down with several tons of cargo. The alternative is that cars simply take these roads too quickly and then lose control on the decline. Tejon Pass is responsible for more fatalities than any other section of Interstate 5.

We can’t control the weather or the slope of the land. We can’t control how many people travel the highway or that it is the quickest route for truckers to take to deliver their cargo. But these uncontrollable risks are only increased when you add in reckless or careless behaviors from other drivers. The leading causes of accidents along I-5 include:

Drowsy truck drivers. Truck drivers are only allowed to drive a certain number of hours a day, but in order to meet deadlines they sometimes work over that allotted number. This can cut into a driver’s sleep, meaning they are driving fatigued. When a driver is fatigued they can lose focus, miss traffic patterns, and risk nodding off. Drowsy driving is dangerous for smaller passenger vehicles and can lead to similar results. While it is a more common occurrence for truck drivers, no one should drive if they are fatigued.
Speeding. We all have places we need to be. But speed limits are posted for a reason. Given the natural dangers already present along the 5 Freeway, it’s important to follow the posted speed limits for your own safety. 28% of fatal accidents in the year 2020 were speeding-related. If you see someone speeding toward you on the highway, it is best to get out of the way and avoid trying to force them to slow down. This only increases the likelihood of an accident.
Failing to yield the right of way. If someone is in a hurry or not paying attention, they might not yield when required. This can easily lead to an accident. This is common along sections where highways intersect, when vehicles are attempting to get on or off I-5. Familiarize yourself with with traffic patterns so that you don’t have to wonder whether or not you should yield to another vehicle.
Impaired driving. 30% of fatal accidents involve alcohol-impaired drivers. Driving safely requires good judgment, coordination, focus, and quick reactions. Alcohol seriously diminishes a driver’s ability to do all of those things, resulting in thousands of completely avoidable accidents every year. Driving under the influence of drugs can also greatly impair your ability to drive safely. If you have partaken in any kind of drug, whether it be legal or illicit, you should stay off the road for not only your own safety, but the safety of those around you.

Some sections of I-5 are more dangerous than others, especially during rush traffic. This is generally due to a higher volume of cars, or the risk of bad weather in certain areas. Here are some spots to watch out for:

Tejon Pass and the Grapevine. Tejon Pass is a mountain pass in southern California. Some use the phrases Tejon Pass and the Grapevine interchangeably, but most refer to the Grapevine as the five miles of steep grade changes toward the northern end of the pass. With the steepest reported grade being 6%, this section of Interstate 5 is not only difficult on a vehicle’s mechanics, the weather here can also be a risk. Semi-trucks are forced to drive well below their usual speeds while passing through the Grapevine, which can lead to risky behaviors from smaller cars that may not need to adjust their speeds much at all. Slow moving trucks and cars in a rush to get to their destination paired with the increased risk of brake failure makes Tejon Pass a breeding ground for fatal accidents.

Major cities. Naturally, the 5 Freeway will be more congested in major cities due to the number of people on the road. Major cities along I-5 include:

San Diego
Los Angeles
Portland
Tacoma
Seattle

Major intersections. These intersections provide increased risk as more people will be changing lanes, and entering and exiting the highway. It is import to stay alert and yield the right of way when you reach areas where two (or more!) highways intersect. Here are some to look out for:

Federal 1 at the Mexican Border in San Diego, California
California State Route 15 to Interstate 15 in San Diego, California
Interstate 10/US Highway 101 in Los Angeles, California
US Route 50 in Sacramento, California
Interstate 80 in Sacramento, California
US Route 20 in Albany, Oregon
Interstate 84/US Highway 30 in Portland, Oregon
US Route 101 in Olympia, Washington
Interstate 90 in Seattle, Washington
US Route 2 in Everett, Washington
US Route 99 at the Canadian border crossing in Blaine, Washington

The 5 Freeway is traveled by millions of cars every year. Construction began in the 1950s in San Diego and was finished in the 1970s. Travel has changed in the past 70 years. We see more people at work, more going on vacation, and more commercial vehicles on our roads every day than what was ever seen when the highway was built. A lot of areas of the I-5 are now outdated and in desperate need of improvement. There simply is not enough road for the number of cars traveling it every day. Some construction is under works to improve and widen the highway in chronically congested spots in California.

The 5 Freeway is the quickest way for hundreds of thousands of people to get where they need to go every day. Whether you drive it every day or are merely passing through the area, knowing why the highway can be so dangerous can help you stay safe so you reach your destination without issue.