A new safety report has placed several South Carolina highways among the deadliest interstate corridors in the United States.
Most notably, a 91-mile stretch of Interstate 77 from Rock Hill to Cayce recorded 90 fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023. That total ranks the corridor among the most dangerous interstate segments nationwide.
Two other major South Carolina highways also ranked high nationally. Interstate 95 finished as the fourth-deadliest interstate in the country, while Interstate 85 ranked fifth overall.
The 30 Most Dangerous Interstate Highway Segments by State
| Rank | Interstate | State Segment | State Segment Length (mi) | Number of Fatal Auto Accidents 2019–2023 | Number of Fatal Auto Accidents per Mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-94 | Illinois | 61 | 122 | 2.00 |
| 2 | I-24 | Kentucky | 17 | 29 | 1.71 |
| 3 | I-55 | Tennessee | 12 | 20 | 1.67 |
| 4 | I-14 | Texas | 25 | 40 | 1.60 |
| 5 | I-95 | Florida | 382 | 594 | 1.55 |
| 6 | I-4* | Florida | 132 | 203 | 1.54 |
| 7 | I-10 | California | 243 | 369 | 1.52 |
| 8 | I-80 | California | 199 | 277 | 1.39 |
| 9 | I-95 | Delaware | 24 | 33 | 1.38 |
| 10 | I-45* | Texas | 284 | 388 | 1.37 |
| 11 | I-15 | California | 287 | 382 | 1.33 |
| 12 | I-95 | Maryland | 109 | 143 | 1.31 |
| 13 | I-35 | Texas | 503 | 656 | 1.30 |
| 14 | I-95 | New Jersey | 78 | 100 | 1.28 |
| 15 | I-12* | Louisiana | 86 | 107 | 1.24 |
| 16 | I-95 | Pennsylvania | 51 | 63 | 1.24 |
| 17 | I-95 | New York | 23 | 28 | 1.22 |
| 18 | I-20 | Georgia | 202 | 243 | 1.20 |
| 19 | I-93 | Massachusetts | 46 | 54 | 1.17 |
| 20 | I-85 | Georgia | 180 | 211 | 1.17 |
| 21 | I-75 | Georgia | 355 | 406 | 1.14 |
| 22 | I-30 | Texas | 223 | 249 | 1.12 |
| 23 | I-95 | Virginia | 179 | 193 | 1.08 |
| 24 | I-24 | Tennessee | 185 | 198 | 1.07 |
| 25 | I-91 | Connecticut | 58 | 61 | 1.05 |
| 26 | I-87* | North Carolina | 13 | 13 | 1.00 |
| 27 | I-77 | South Carolina | 91 | 90 | 0.99 |
| 28 | I-75 | Florida | 470 | 460 | 0.98 |
| 29 | I-5 | California | 796 | 779 | 0.98 |
| 30 | I-10 | Louisiana | 274 | 264 | 0.96 |
These findings by Camililaw come amid broader concerns about roadway safety across the United States. Nationally, the U.S. records a higher rate of motor vehicle deaths per capita than any other developed country.
The danger extends beyond drivers and passengers. From 2013 to 2022, U.S. pedestrian death rates climbed 50 percent, while overall traffic fatalities increased 22.5 percent. During that same period, many other high-income countries saw significant declines.
According to the CDC, pedestrian death rates in the U.S. were highest among people ages 15 to 24 and 25 to 64. Those trends worsened following the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021 alone, 43,230 people died in U.S. motor vehicle crashes, including 7,388 pedestrians. Rising cases of distracted and impaired driving continue to fuel the problem.
The U.S. also maintains a higher legal blood alcohol concentration limit than most other countries. Without sustained enforcement and infrastructure changes, deadly trends on highways like I-77, I-95, and I-85 could continue.
