{"id":4548,"date":"2023-05-15T00:50:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-15T07:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/?p=4548"},"modified":"2023-05-15T13:57:10","modified_gmt":"2023-05-15T20:57:10","slug":"dangerous-roads-in-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/car-insurance\/dangerous-roads-in-washington\/","title":{"rendered":"Watch Out for the Most Dangerous Roads in Washington\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s a steep mountain road. A congested city byway. A roadway appropriately nicknamed the \u201cHighway of Death.\u201d These and a handful more are among the routes that make Evergreen State drivers appreciate their full coverage auto insurance<\/a>. Or wish they had it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a deeper dive into some of Washington\u2019s most dangerous highways and byways and learn more about how to stay safe in risky driving conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highway 522 Between Monroe and Woodenville<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Such a short slip of pavement, and yet this so-called \u201cHighway of Death\u201d has earned its gloomy moniker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the space of just 10.5 miles, this route has seen over 1,000 accidents and taken 40 lives over a 15-year period. More recently (2009 to 2014), another 18 lives were lost here. So what gives? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highway 522, which joins these two communities near Seattle, is a very narrow route with two-way traffic and no central divider. There\u2019s just a rumble bar separating vehicles from oncoming traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One shoulder of the path is practically non-existent, with steep cliffs in places and potential watery graves in other spots. Many accidents \u2014 some fatal \u2014 have been caused by distracted, drunk<\/a>, or sleepy drivers colliding with oncoming traffic. And finally, there are lots of curves and motorists driving way too fast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highway engineers don\u2019t know how to solve multiple problems, either. For example, the road can\u2019t be widened in most places because of the geography, and too many drivers refuse to slow down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I-5 \u2026 <\/strong>Everywhere<\/em><\/strong> North to South<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The problem here is basically the length and popularity. I-5 extends from Canada to the north and goes right into Oregon to the south, basically bisecting the state. It\u2019s roughly 1,831 miles long and hosts some 73 million vehicles every year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Seattle alone, the road takes some 274,000 drivers into and out of downtown, making it one of the most congested sections of roadway in the United States. Overall, from north to south, I-5 is the busiest highway in not only Washington but also the entire Pacific Northwest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, of course, accidents happen. With sad regularity. Annually, about 150 to 200 deaths occur on this risky ribbon of concrete. Full coverage auto insurance<\/a> can be particularly critical on this long, long stretch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obstruction Point Road (Well, of Course)<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Say the name of this patch out loud, and tell us why you think Obstruction Point Road shouldn\u2019t<\/em> be on this list. What we have here is a dirt road in Olympic National Park that\u2019s more than 6,000 feet above sea level and only open from July to October. That\u2019s presumably because your odds of death during these months are lower than during the harsher times of the year<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, you really don\u2019t want to be here during snow season because the road hardly has a shoulder, which makes it easy to skid off to the side. In such a remote area, you wouldn\u2019t want to get stuck with no roadside assistance. And the connection between accidents and car insurance rates gives careful travel here added importance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ski<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hart\u2019s (High, High) Pass Road <\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While we\u2019re on a theme of remote mountain routes, let\u2019s discuss Hart\u2019s Pass. It is, after all, the highest road by elevation in Washington State. Nosebleed territory, basically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hart\u2019s Pass \u2014 a single-lane, dirt and gravel road \u2014 rides the heavens in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest<\/a> at an elevation of 7,000 feet. The good news here is that it\u2019s a sight to see. However, it\u2019s another Evergreen State roadway labeled the most dangerous in the state. In fact, you\u2019ve got steep cliffs and zero guard rails. So don\u2019t look down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need any more indication of how dangerous Hart\u2019s Pass can be? There\u2019s a scenic stop called Deadhorse Point where an equine pack supposedly \u2014 you don\u2019t want to know. And did we mention the occasional landslide? But again \u2026 the views are stunning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fife Curve Curves, and Your Ride Had Better Do the Same<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Feel like getting back to the city? Had enough single-lane mountain roads for adventurous extreme sports drivers? Then let\u2019s go just 5.6 miles from the city of Tacoma. Here you\u2019ll find the Fife curve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a small section of the aforementioned I-5. In this particular section, though, the path takes a rather abrupt turn, and you’d better be able to do the same. For this reason, there\u2019s no room whatsoever for distracted driving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that the Fife curve mostly causes gridlock. But it can also lead to slow-motion car accidents that can cause plenty of damage to the vehicle\u2019s chassis. As long as your car insurance policy includes collision and comprehensive, the worst that\u2019s likely to occur is a wait in a service garage when you should be at work or picking up the kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do You Have the Right Car Insurance Coverage in WA to Protect Yourself?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Does this represent every dangerous route in Washington State? Of course not. And even the safest byways can be treacherous in bad weather or dangerous road conditions if others drive recklessly, your car breaks down, or \u2026 the list is too long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not to freak you out, but every highway, dirt road, paved street, and thoroughfare in Washington State is an accident potentially waiting to happen. That\u2019s why we recommend full coverage auto insurance at rates you can afford. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, you could get by with your cheapest auto insurance option, which is liability coverage. That will cover the needs of the other driver and passengers if you\u2019re at fault for an accident, but it will do absolutely nothing to repair or replace your own vehicle in such a situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t worry about it. Your independent auto insurance agent does business with multiple major carriers and can compare competitive rates to get you the best deal at the lowest price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, the right car policy is important to protect you from unexpected costs if you get into an accident. But it’s also important to practice safe driving habits to avoid accidents in the first place. Make sure to always check your mirrors, stay within the speed limit, and pay attention to your surroundings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affordable Car Insurance for Risky Driving Conditions in the Pacific Northwest<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your independent Vern Fonk Insurance agent can help you find ideal car insurance for all of the state\u2019s highways, byways, and dizzying mountain roads. Call us at (800) 455-8276 or get a quick quote online<\/a>. You can also find a Vern Fonk office in Washington near you<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a steep mountain road. A congested city byway. A roadway appropriately nicknamed the \u201cHighway of Death.\u201d These and a handful more are among the routes that make Evergreen State drivers appreciate their full coverage auto insurance. Or wish they had it.  Let\u2019s take a deeper dive into some of Washington\u2019s most dangerous highways and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4549,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-car-insurance"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4548"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4548\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4552,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4548\/revisions\/4552"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}