Seven locations along the notoriously dangerous Roosevelt Boulevard rank among the top 10 intersections for car crashes throughout Philadelphia, but topping the list is a busy Fishtown location with nearly 30 accidents in just the first half of 2014, according to data released by the Philadelphia Police Department.
The PPD reports 29 accidents at Delaware and Frankford avenues – just outside the entrance to SugarHouse Casino -- between Jan. 1 and June 15, 2014.
"It is pretty common knowledge that when you have a large popular business, a casino, a shopping center," said Jenny Robinson of AAA Mid-Atlantic, "that it is going to add to the traffic concerns."
A barrier is blocking traffic on Delaware Avenue from turning onto Frankford, which may up the potential for problems, she said.
"Three way intersections are already complicated and confusing," Robinson said. "If you add construction to the mix, it is even more complicated and confusing."
Driver behavior led to a deadly crash between a vehicle and a SEPTA trolley in early May. SEPTA officials said the car's driver was traveling at a "high rate of speed" when the crash occurred.
The second ranked spot, North 9th Street and Roosevelt Boulevard, had 23 crashes during the same time period, but more than three times as many cars traveled through the North Philly intersection compared with the Fishtown crossroads on average each day, the data shows.
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More than 100,000 cars passed through North 9th Street and Roosevelt Boulevard, while only 35,500 went through the intersection at Delaware and Frankford avenues, according to the Philadelphia Streets Dept.
But Robinson cautions that the raw numbers don’t tell the whole story and more information is needed to understand how to ward off future accidents.
"Are they minor fender benders? Or are they serious?" asked Jenny Robinson, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman. "Are people speeding? Are they running red lights? Is the signage confusing to motorists?"
"Obviously it’s good to prevent all crashes, but it helps to know what type they are, to be able to figure out the best solutions,” she said. “The goal is to save lives and prevent injuries.”
Aside from the Fishtown intersection, two other locations outside of the infamous Boulevard make the top 10 list.
Lincoln Drive and Gypsy Lane in the city’s East Falls neighborhood ranks fifth with 21 accidents through the first 6 ½ months of the year, according to police. The Streets Dept. reports average daily traffic volume is 43,300 at that crossroads.
In South Philadelphia, 20 accidents occurred at 26th Street and Penrose Avenue. The two roads, which have 64,622 cars pass through on average each day, do not intersect each other at a 90 degree angle and carry many drivers heading to Philadelphia International Airport who may be unfamiliar with the traffic pattern.
Here’s the full top 10 list for intersectons with the most vehicular crashes:
1. Delaware Avenue & Frankford Avenue: 29
2. North 9th Street & Roosevelt Boulevard: 23
3. Roosevelt Boulevard & Fox Street: 22
4. Grant Avenue & Roosevelt Boulevard: 22
5. Lincoln Drive & Gypsy Lane: 21
6. Harbinson Avenue & Roosevelt Boulevard: 21
7. 26th Street & Penrose Avenue: 20
8. Roosevelt Boulevard & Ridge Avenue: 19
9. Roosevelt Boulevard & Adams Avenue: 19
10. Red Lion Road & Roosevelt Boulevard: 18
View Top 10 Philadelphia Intersections for Car Crashes in a full screen map
Contact Alison Burdo at 610.668.5635, alison.burdo@nbcuni.com or follow @NewsBurd on Twitter.
