Beautiful Roads, Deadly Statistics
Montana’s highways carry you past mountain passes, river canyons, and wide open plains. They also carry some of the country’s highest crash risks. Montana is ranked fifth for the number of fatal accidents per resident, with 90% of those fatalities happening on roads outside of city limits. montanafreepress
Knowing where crashes happen most often will not make you immune to a careless driver. It can help you drive more defensively, plan safer routes in winter, and understand your rights if someone else’s negligence puts you in the hospital. Below are five of the most dangerous roads and intersections in Montana, based on Montana Department of Transportation crash data, federal fatality data, and local police reports.
1. Interstate 90 and Bozeman Pass
Interstate 90 is Montana’s main east-to-west corridor, linking Missoula, Butte, Bozeman, and Billings. It is also the state’s deadliest road by total fatalities. A five-year analysis of fatal crash data found that I-90 was the location of 75 deaths in that span, with another 10 fatal crashes on “I-90 West”. newstalkkgvo
Interstates are usually safer than two-lane highways because they have on- and off-ramps, divided traffic, and no cross streets. Statewide, Montana interstates had a crash index of 90 over the five-year period, versus 134 for all highways. Bozeman Pass is the glaring exception. The stretch of I-90 between Bozeman and Livingston is the busiest section of rural interstate in Montana, and its tight corners help produce an accident rate nearly four times the average for Montana interstates. That makes it by far the most crash-prone section of interstate in the analysis. montanafreepressmontanafreepress
Bozeman Pass combines steep grades, sharp curves, heavy commercial truck traffic, and fast-changing winter weather. Black ice, blowing snow, and jackknifed semis are common hazards from November through March. If you commute between Bozeman and Livingston, slow down well before the curves and leave extra following distance behind trucks.
2. U.S. Highway 93
U.S. Highway 93 runs the length of western Montana, from the Idaho border through the Bitterroot Valley, Missoula, the Flathead, and up to Canada. It is one of the busiest two-lane roads in the state and among the deadliest. The same five-year review found US 93 with 58 fatalities between Idaho and the Canadian border. newstalkkgvo
Several factors make US 93 dangerous. Much of the road is two lanes with limited passing zones, which tempts impatient drivers into risky passes and head-on collisions. Traffic has grown rapidly with population growth in Ravalli, Missoula, Lake, and Flathead Counties. The southern end climbs through mountain terrain, where a winding three-mile section of road through Lost Trail Pass has suffered accidents at nearly four times the statewide average. montanafreepress
Wildlife is another serious risk on US 93. A conservation study of roadside carcass data found that in the Bitterroot, U.S. 93 from Corvallis down through Hamilton was ranked eighth among Montana’s most dangerous stretches for animal collisions. Fall migration months bring heavy deer and elk movement across the highway, especially at dawn and dusk. 930kmpt
3. U.S. Highway 2
U.S. Highway 2, known as the Hi-Line, crosses the entire northern tier of Montana from Libby and Kalispell through Glacier country to Havre, Glasgow, and Wolf Point. It recorded 53 deaths on the cross-state US 2 over the same five-year period, placing it just behind US 93 among state highways. newstalkkgvo
The dangers on US 2 are different from city traffic. Long, straight stretches invite high speeds and drowsy driving. Emergency response can take a long time in remote areas, which turns serious injuries into fatal ones. Winter brings ground blizzards and whiteout conditions across the plains, while the western end near Glacier National Park sees heavy tourist traffic in summer from drivers unfamiliar with mountain roads. Agricultural equipment, livestock trucks, and oil field traffic share the road with passenger cars, creating dangerous speed differences.
4. The U.S. 12 and U.S. 93 Junction at Lolo
Intersections where two busy highways meet are especially dangerous, and the junction at Lolo, just south of Missoula, is a prime example. According to Montana Free Press analysis of MDT data, while the accident rate on U.S. 12 is elevated above the state average all the way to Lolo from the Idaho border, it spikes at more than five times the state average at the junction of the two highways. montanafreepress
This junction collects commuter traffic heading into Missoula, logging and freight trucks coming over Lolo Pass from Idaho, and recreational traffic bound for the Bitterroot and Lochsa River country. Left turns across fast-moving traffic, drivers misjudging gaps, and congestion during rush hour all contribute to crashes. Rear-end collisions and T-bone crashes are common at busy rural junctions like this one, and both can cause serious neck, back, and brain injuries.
5. Reserve Street in Missoula and King Avenue West in Billings
Montana’s growing cities have their own crash hot spots. In Missoula, Reserve Street carries a huge share of the city’s commercial and commuter traffic. Officials say Missoula’s Reserve Street is one of the busiest in the state. A prior study pegged Missoula with the top five most dangerous intersections, four of which it said were on Reserve. State transportation officials have disputed how that study ranked the road statewide, but they acknowledged that “the information, the number of crashes, is accurate.” Reserve Street and Mullan Road, along with the I-90 interchange area, remain places where drivers should expect heavy traffic, frequent lane changes, and distracted drivers. MDT says drivers, not engineering, to blame for dangerous roadways +2
In Billings, Montana’s largest city, crash data from the Billings Police Department points to the King Avenue West corridor. In the 2022 Billings Police Department annual report, the areas with the most car crashes in town were identified, with the number one spot at the intersection of King Avenue West and South 20th Street West. The city’s engineer explained that higher use tends to correlate with more crashes. Billings drivers should also note that most vehicle crashes happen between 3 and 6 p.m., during the evening commute. NewsLocal News +2
City intersection crashes usually happen at lower speeds than highway wrecks, but they still cause whiplash, broken bones, concussions, and serious injuries to pedestrians and cyclists.
Why Montana Roads Are So Dangerous
Several factors combine to make Montana’s roads riskier than most states.
Mountain passes and curves. Analysts found that the most crash-prone routes often snake over highway passes, in some cases on routes initially designed for wagons rather than modern cars. Many of the state’s worst stretches hug lake shorelines or twist through difficult terrain. montanafreepressmontanafreepress
Two-lane highways. Undivided highways with limited passing zones lead to head-on collisions when drivers pass unsafely or drift across the center line.
Winter weather. Snow, ice, wind, and sudden whiteouts can turn familiar roads deadly in minutes.
Wildlife. Deer, elk, and moose crossings cause thousands of crashes each year, particularly in fall.
Impaired driving. Alcohol remains one of Montana’s biggest traffic safety problems and is a factor in a large share of the state’s deadly crashes.
Long emergency response times. In rural Montana, help can be far away, and delayed medical care makes injuries more severe.
What to Do If You Are Injured in a Crash on a Dangerous Montana Road
A dangerous road does not excuse a negligent driver. Speeding on Bozeman Pass, passing recklessly on US 93, driving drunk on the Hi-Line, or running a light on Reserve Street are all choices. When another driver’s carelessness causes your crash, you can hold them accountable.
If you are hurt in a Montana car accident, take these steps to protect your health and your claim:
- Get medical care right away. Some injuries, like concussions and internal injuries, do not show symptoms immediately.
- Call law enforcement. A Montana Highway Patrol or police report documents road conditions, weather, and fault.
- Photograph the scene. Capture vehicle damage, skid marks, road signs, weather, and any wildlife or debris.
- Collect witness information. On rural highways, a passing driver may be the only independent witness.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. Adjusters often use early statements to shift blame onto you.
- Talk to a Montana personal injury lawyer. An attorney can preserve evidence, identify every available insurance policy, and deal with the insurance companies for you.
Montana Law Protects Injured Drivers
Under Montana Code Annotated Section 27-2-204, you generally have three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Waiting is risky, though. Dashcam footage, black box data from commercial trucks, and witness memories fade quickly.
Montana follows a modified comparative fault rule under MCA Section 27-1-702. You can still recover compensation if you were partly at fault, as long as your share of fault is not greater than the fault of the party you are suing. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies know this rule well and often try to blame weather, wildlife, or your driving to reduce what they pay. Having an experienced attorney on your side helps keep fault where it belongs.
Contact Western Justice Associates
If you or a loved one was injured in a crash on I-90, US 93, US 2, or any Montana road or intersection, Western Justice Associates is ready to help.
Our attorneys are recognized by Best Lawyers in America for personal injury litigation, and we have fought for injured Montanans for years. We know Montana’s roads, Montana’s courts, and the tactics insurance companies use against crash victims.
Call (406) 587-1900 for a free consultation. We serve clients across Montana from our offices in Bozeman and Missoula, and we come to you if your injuries keep you from traveling. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.