The 20 Most Dangerous Traffic Locations in Nebraska for 2025
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Nebraska’s roadways (from bustling Omaha metro streets to quiet rural highways) present unique traffic risks that lead to numerous crashes every year. Based on data from NDOT Crash Facts, NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, and local news reports, we’ve identified the 10 most dangerous intersections and 10 deadliest highway corridors across the state.
This guide highlights what makes each location hazardous, common crash types, and factors affecting driver and pedestrian safety. Understanding these hotspots can help you stay alert and protect your rights if you are involved in a collision.
Part 1: Nebraska’s 10 Most Dangerous Intersections
1. 72nd Street & Dodge Street, Omaha
Annual Crashes: Over 50
Crash Types: Rear-end collisions, side-swipes, confusion caused by express lane shifts, and prohibited left turns
Hazards: With nearly 75,000 vehicles crossing daily, this busy junction features complex lane rules that confuse drivers. Limited sight lines and midday express lane shifts result in frequent rear-end and side-swipe crashes. High traffic volumes during peak hours add to the risk, making this one of Omaha’s most dangerous intersections. [bottlingerlaw.com]
2. 90th Street & West Dodge Road, Omaha
Annual Crashes: Second-highest in Omaha
Daily Volume: Approximately 106,000 vehicles
Crash Types: Rear-end pile-ups, angle collisions during heavy turning flows
Hazards: One of the city’s busiest intersections, it features multiple through lanes and short traffic signal cycles. Sudden stops in congested periods cause chain-reaction crashes, especially during rush hours. Heavy commercial traffic further complicates driver reactions.
3. 108th Street & Q Street, Omaha
Crash Types: Fender-benders, right-hook pedestrian strikes
Hazards: Located in a busy commercial area, rush-hour congestion often causes minor collisions and dangerous pedestrian conflicts. The mix of shoppers and commuter traffic, combined with insufficient pedestrian refuge zones, increases injury risk.
4. 120th Street & Center Street, Omaha
Crash Types: Rear-end collisions at signal backups, left-turn T-bones
Hazards: High-speed approaches funnel traffic into a dense retail district, leading to frequent sudden stops and angle crashes. Drivers face difficulty judging turn timing due to signal delays and lane changes.
5. 90th Street & West Dodge Road, Omaha
Crash Types: Sideswipes, angle collisions caused by abrupt lane changes
Hazards: Serving as a gateway between residential and commercial zones, sudden lane shifts and merging cause confusion and frequent side-impact crashes. Limited signage exacerbates the problem.
- 132nd Street & L Street & Millard Avenue & Industrial Road, Omaha
Daily Volume: About 70,000 vehicles
Crash Types: Multi-vehicle collisions in a complex 29-lane intersection with 19 traffic signals
Hazards: Known as the “peanut” intersection, its sprawling size and confusing geometry with conflicting movements pose a high risk to motorists and pedestrians alike. Minimal refuge islands and frequent signal changes contribute to collisions.
- 27th Street & O Street, Lincoln
Crash Ranking: Highest crash count in Lincoln (2021 report)
Crash Types: Frequent fender-benders, serious rear-end collisions
Hazards: This urban arterial experiences high volumes of commuter and local traffic. Poor lane discipline and insufficient signal timing result in repetitive crashes, especially during rush hours.
- 70th Street & Pine Lake Road, Lincoln
Crash Ranking: Second-highest in Lincoln
Crash Types: Angle collisions at the intersection of high-speed through traffic and local turns
Hazards: Drivers often misjudge gaps or fail to slow adequately when turning across fast-moving traffic, causing severe T-bone crashes. The intersection’s geometry and signal phases increase conflict points.
9. 27th Street & Highway 2, Lincoln
Crash Ranking: Third highest in Lincoln
Crash Types: Pedestrian and vehicle collisions at busy crosswalks
Hazards: Heavy foot traffic combined with fast-moving vehicles creates dangerous conflicts. Crosswalks are poorly marked, and signal timing often fails to protect pedestrians crossing this major arterial adequately.
- Highway 2 & Highway 43 (and Spur 66-A), Palmyra
Recent Fatal Crashes: Multiple in the past year
Crash Types: Run-off-road and angle collisions at Y-shaped junctions
Hazards: High-speed rural highway traffic meets local side streets with incomplete turn lanes. Drivers approaching from side roads face limited visibility, and the irregular Y-junction geometry confuses, increasing crash severity.
Part 2: Nebraska’s 10 Most Hazardous Highway & Corridor Stretches
11. Interstate 80
Fatalities: 28 (2020 FARS data)
Crash Types: Multi-vehicle pile-ups, dust storms, and winter weather crashes
Hazards: Nebraska’s busiest east-west interstate, I-80, sees heavy truck traffic at high speeds. Dust storms and winter weather create low-visibility and slick conditions, leading to severe crashes, especially near rural stretches with few escape routes.
12. U.S. Highway 30
Fatalities: 11
Crash Types: Rear-ends, blind curve run-offs
Hazards: This highway mixes urban and rural driving, with sharp curves and long stretches of high-speed rural road. Drivers unfamiliar with the changing conditions face risk, especially near blind spots and sharp bends.
13. U.S. Highway 75
Fatalities: 11
Crash Types: Rear-end and sideswipe crashes through the Omaha metro
Hazards: As a major commuter artery, heavy traffic volumes and frequent lane changes cause collisions. High-speed vehicles merging into slower flows create hazardous conditions.
14. U.S. Highway 6
Fatalities: 10
Crash Types: Run-off-road crashes involving farm equipment and commercial vehicles
Hazards: The route features a two-lane rural road with minimal shoulders, heavy agricultural vehicle use, and narrow lanes, making it dangerous, especially during harvest seasons.
15. U.S. Highway 81
Fatalities: 8
Crash Types: Animal collisions, head-on crashes
Hazards: This fast two-lane highway crosses rural farmland. Limited passing zones and unpredictable farm equipment traffic cause dangerous encounters. Animal crossings are frequent, increasing the risks of sudden swerves or crashes.
- U.S. Highway 77
Fatalities: 7
Crash Types: Vehicle-bicycle conflicts, rear-end crashes
Hazards: Near Lincoln, this highway sees mixed use by motorists and cyclists. Rural stretches with varying speed limits cause speed differentials, increasing collision risks.
- U.S. Highway 275
Fatalities: 6
Crash Types: Lane-change collisions, rear-ends
Hazards: A growing suburban corridor south of Omaha, frequent lane merges, and short acceleration lanes increase sideswipe and rear-end incidents.
- State Route 2
Fatalities: 5
Crash Types: Run-off-road crashes, angle collisions
Hazards: Narrow two-lane highway with blind hills and limited shoulders. Winter weather makes the route especially hazardous, with frequent loss-of-control crashes.
- State Route 91
Fatalities: 5
Crash Types: Run-off-road, rear-end crashes
Hazards: A rural corridor lacking median barriers, SR-91 sees high winter-weather crashes where icy conditions and slick roads cause drivers to lose control.
20. U.S. Highway 83
Fatalities: 5
Crash Types: Run-off-road, farm-equipment collisions
Hazards: Long rural stretches with high speeds and agricultural vehicle crossings put motorists at risk. Sudden encounters with slow-moving equipment or animals can result in severe crashes.
Why This List Matters
This list combines multiple reliable sources, including NDOT Crash Facts, NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, and local reporting by KLKN-TV and BottlingerLaw. The combination of crash frequency, fatality rates, and specific local hazards ensures this guide is an up-to-date resource for Nebraska drivers.
From the congested commercial corridors of Omaha to the long, rural stretches where farm equipment shares the road, Nebraska presents a variety of risks. Understanding common crash types like rear-end pile-ups, angle collisions, and pedestrian strikes (along with hazard factors like geometry, signal timing, and weather) helps drivers navigate more safely.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nebraska’s Dangerous Roads
- Why are intersections like 72nd & Dodge so risky?
Busy intersections with complex lane rules and heavy traffic volumes create confusion and abrupt stopping patterns. Limited protected-turn signals increase the risk of side-impact and rear-end crashes. - Are rural highways really dangerous?
Yes. Many rural highways in Nebraska lack median barriers, have limited shoulders, and feature long straight stretches where high speeds encourage reckless driving. Farm equipment and animal crossings add unexpected hazards. - What can passengers do after a crash?
Even as a passenger, injuries can be severe. Collect photos, document the scene, and seek medical attention immediately. Consulting an experienced attorney can clarify your rights to compensation. - How does the weather impact crash risk in Nebraska?
Icy roads, snowstorms, and dust storms significantly reduce visibility and road traction, especially on highways like I-80 and SR-2. Drivers are urged to adjust speeds and follow safety warnings carefully.
How Weather and Seasonal Changes Affect Nebraska Road Safety
Nebraska’s variable climate plays a key role in the state’s traffic safety challenges. Winter months bring ice and snow, particularly on rural highways with limited salt and snowplow coverage. Black ice on bridges and shaded areas causes unexpected loss of control and crashes. High winds can blow dust or debris across highways, causing sudden visibility issues and multi-vehicle pile-ups.
During harvest seasons, agricultural vehicles increase on many two-lane rural roads, slowing traffic and increasing collision risks. Summer thunderstorms with heavy rain can create slick roadways and hydroplaning dangers.
Drivers should always check weather conditions before traveling and use caution during adverse weather. Slowing down, maintaining safe following distances, and ensuring vehicles are winter-ready can reduce crash risks.
The Elevated Risk for Pedestrians and Cyclists in Nebraska’s Urban Intersections
Many of Nebraska’s deadliest intersections, such as 108th & Q Street or 27th & Highway 2, experience high pedestrian and cyclist activity. Shopping centers, transit stops, schools, and residential areas bring foot traffic into conflict with vehicles. Unfortunately, many crosswalks lack sufficient lighting, signage, or signal timing to protect non-motorized users fully.
Right-hook collisions, where turning vehicles strike crossing cyclists or pedestrians, are common. Wide multi-lane intersections challenge pedestrian visibility and increase crossing distances, which discourages safe street crossing.
Municipal safety programs have improved infrastructure in some locations, adding pedestrian refuge islands, extended walk signals, and better markings. However, many intersections still require caution and awareness from drivers and vulnerable road users alike.
What You Can Do After a Crash in Nebraska’s High-Risk Zones
Crashes in Nebraska’s known danger spots can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone. Documenting the crash scene thoroughly, taking photos of vehicle damage, skid marks, traffic signals, and weather conditions, can be vital evidence.
Experienced local attorneys are ready to offer free case reviews to evaluate your situation, help you understand fault factors like signal timing or road geometry, and guide you through insurance and legal processes.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash at one of Nebraska’s high-risk intersections or corridors, don’t hesitate to seek help. Your rights to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering matter.
At Local Accident Reports, we provide up-to-date traffic accident news from across Nebraska. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact us today at 1-888‑657‑1460 for your free case review. We’re here to help.