Most dangerous roads and intersections in Akron Ohio

Akron has plenty of everyday driving pinch points: quick merges, busy arterials, short downtown blocks, and neighborhood streets where drivers, walkers, and cyclists all share a common space. The latest AMATS crash report does not label places as “dangerous” in a dramatic way, but it does identify high-crash locations using crash frequency and injury severity. If you are looking for the most dangerous roads and intersections in Akron, Ohio, the best starting point is that local crash data, paired with extra caution behind the wheel.

Call (330) 426-0288 or request a complimentary consultation with a Akron car accident attorney at Buckeye Law Group today.

Which Akron roads and intersections show up as the riskiest?

Based on the 2022–2024 Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study report, the Akron locations that stand out most are high-crash intersections such as Rhodes Avenue and West Thornton Street, Perkins Street/SR 59 at the SR 8 southbound ramps/Goodkirk Street, South Miller Road at Ridgewood Road/I-77 ramps, North Howard Street at Glenwood Avenue, and West Market Street/SR 18 at Maple Street.

For roadway sections, Akron’s highest-ranked local segments include North Main Street/SR 261 from Olive Street to East Tallmadge Avenue, Copley Road/SR 162 from East Avenue to Diagonal Road/South Portage Path, North Portage Path from Garman Road to Merriman Road, and Copley Road/SR 162 from Storer Avenue to East Avenue.

That does not mean a crash is likely every time you drive through these spots. It means these locations met AMATS’ “high crash” criteria during the reporting period, which included minimum crash counts and at least 30% fatal or injury-related crashes for both intersections and road sections. AMATS ranked locations by combining crash volume with the percentage of fatal and injury crashes, so a lower composite score meant a worse ranking.

Akron intersections drivers should know

Here are several Akron intersections that appeared high on AMATS’ community list. Keep in mind that rankings can change as traffic patterns, construction, enforcement, and street design change.

• Rhodes Avenue and West Thornton Street: Ranked first in Akron and first overall in the AMATS region, with 26 crashes and an injury percentage of about 57.7%.
• Perkins Street/SR 59 and SR 8 southbound ramps/Goodkirk Street: Ranked second in Akron, with 44 crashes and about 40.9% involving injury.
• South Miller Road and Ridgewood Road/I-77 ramps: Ranked third in Akron, with 35 crashes and a 40% injury percentage.
• North Howard Street and Glenwood Avenue: Ranked fourth in Akron, with a 50% injury percentage and one bicycle-related crash noted.
• West Market Street/SR 18 and Maple Street: Ranked fifth in Akron, with both bicycle- and pedestrian-related crashes noted in the data.

A pattern jumps out: many of these spots mix turning movements, ramps, commuter traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, or multi-lane approaches. That combination gives drivers more to process in less time. A quick glance away from the road, a rolling right turn, or a rushed left turn can be enough to create a serious collision.

The Akron road sections that deserve extra attention

Intersections get a lot of attention, but some of the most dangerous roads Akron drivers talk about are longer corridors. AMATS’ Akron community list ranks North Main Street/SR 261 from Olive Street to East Tallmadge Avenue as Akron’s top high-crash roadway section and third overall in the region. Copley Road/SR 162 appears twice in Akron’s local top four sections: East Avenue to Diagonal Road/South Portage Path and Storer Avenue to East Avenue.

North Portage Path from Garman Road to Merriman Road also ranked high, with 34 crashes during the three-year period. Other Akron segments worth noting include East Waterloo Road/US 224 from George Washington Boulevard/SR 241 to the Akron corporation line, West North Street from West Market Street/SR 18 to North Howard Street, and East Glenwood Avenue from Howard Street to SR 8.

On these corridors, the risk is not always one obvious intersection. It can come from frequent driveways, speed changes, parked cars, bus stops, hills, curves, poor visibility, or drivers weaving between lanes. When you are on a corridor with a high crash history, leave more following distance than feels necessary and resist the urge to “make the light.”

Why do these crashes happen?

Most crashes are not caused by one mysterious factor. They usually come from ordinary driving mistakes happening in a difficult place: following too closely, misjudging a gap, speeding through a yellow light, turning without seeing a pedestrian, or changing lanes near an on-ramp. In the AMATS region, rear-end, sideswipe-passing, angle, and fixed-object crashes made up about three-fourths of crashes studied from 2022 through 2024.

Arterial roads are another key piece of the puzzle. AMATS reported that nearly 45% of crashes occurred on major and minor arterials, even though those roads made up only 14.5% of the region’s lane miles. That matters because many Akron high-crash locations are on routes built to move traffic, but they also cut through neighborhoods, commercial areas, and pedestrian zones.

What should you do after a crash in Akron?

First, get safe and get medical help if anyone may be hurt. Even if a crash seems minor, adrenaline can hide symptoms, and a same-day medical record can help connect injuries to the collision. Then, if you can do so safely, gather the basics before the scene changes. Use this quick checklist:

1. Call 911 if there are injuries, disabled vehicles, suspected impairment, or a dangerous roadway condition.
2. Take photos and video of vehicle damage, skid marks, traffic signals, signs, road debris, lane markings, and the wider intersection.
3. Exchange information with drivers and collect names and numbers for witnesses.
4. Write down the exact location, including cross streets, ramps, lane direction, and nearby businesses.
5. Avoid guessing fault at the scene; stick to facts when speaking with police and insurers.
6. Keep medical bills, repair estimates, and missed-work notes in one place.

If you were injured, talking with an Akron personal injury attorney can help you understand insurance deadlines, medical documentation, fault disputes, and the value of your claim. An Akron auto accident lawyer or Akron car accident attorney can also help investigate whether road design, traffic signals, driver negligence, or multiple vehicles played a role.

Safer habits for Akron’s high-crash areas

You cannot control every driver around you, but you can lower your risk in the places where crashes cluster. Slow down before the intersection instead of braking late. Watch for drivers turning across your lane, especially on wide roads like Market, Copley, Main, and Arlington. Give pedestrians a second look before turning right, and be extra careful at dusk or after dark, when visibility drops.

Akron’s crash hotspots are not random. They tend to be busy, complicated places where traffic speed, turning movements, ramps, and vulnerable road users overlap. Knowing where they are gives you a better chance to drive defensively, avoid preventable crashes, and know what to do if a collision happens.

Call (330) 426-0288 or request a complimentary consultation with a Akron car accident attorney at Buckeye Law Group today.

*This article provides general information about dangerous roads and intersections in Akron, Ohio, and the legal considerations motorists may face after a traffic collision. It is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice for your specific circumstances. Reading this article or contacting Buckeye Law Group does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship. Car accidents in Akron, Ohio, may involve questions about driver negligence, roadway design, traffic signals, weather conditions, insurance coverage, medical treatment, witness statements, crash reports, vehicle damage, and applicable filing deadlines. Evaluating a potential claim requires a careful review of how the collision occurred, the available evidence, Ohio law, and the losses suffered by those involved. Depending on the circumstances, an Akron car accident claim may also involve local law enforcement agencies, medical providers, insurers, or court proceedings in Summit County. Consult a qualified Akron car accident attorney for guidance regarding your legal rights, available options, and the deadlines that may apply. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.*