Crash Map: The Most Dangerous Intersections in Tempe (2025)

Every driver in Tempe has their "that one spot." Maybe it's that tricky merge on University, that hair-trigger left turn near Mill Ave, or the crosswalk where people seem to forget physics applies.

But now we have data—and it confirms what your instincts already know: Tempe’s most dangerous intersections aren’t random. They’re predictable. And in 2025, they’re as risky as ever.

This isn’t about fear. It’s about awareness. Because knowing where crashes happen—and why—can help you avoid being next. And if you’ve already been hit at one of these hotspots, you need a Tempe accident attorney who understands the traffic patterns, legal risks, and insurance games unique to this city.

Where Are the Worst Intersections in Tempe?

Based on traffic incident data, first responder logs, and community safety reports, these are the top crash-prone intersections in Tempe in 2025:

1. Rural Rd & University Dr
A high-speed funnel surrounded by college commuters, bus stops, and distracted left turns. It's a frequent site for T-bone crashes and bike-ped accidents.

2. McClintock Dr & Southern Ave
Four lanes of chaos during rush hour. Known for rear-end crashes and red-light runners.

3. Baseline Rd & Mill Ave
Between grocery traffic and confusing lane shifts, this one catches drivers off guard—especially those unfamiliar with the area.

4. Broadway Rd & Priest Dr
A hotspot for rideshare crashes, late-night fender benders, and some serious DUI collisions.

5. Apache Blvd & Price Rd
You’ve got everything here: light rail crossings, pedestrians, confusing signage. A frequent contributor to both minor crashes and severe injuries.

Tempe.gov offers detailed crash heatmaps and transportation plans—but it doesn’t tell you what to do if you’re injured there. That’s where legal support comes in.

Why These Spots Keep Seeing Crashes

It’s not just bad luck—it’s infrastructure, behavior, and distraction. Here’s what makes these intersections so dangerous:

• Heavy student foot traffic near ASU

• Multiple turning lanes without protected arrows

• Outdated signals that confuse rideshare or out-of-town drivers

• Distracted driving, especially during evening rush or weekends

• Poorly marked pedestrian crossings

A Tempe distracted driving lawyer will tell you: the crash wasn’t just caused by traffic. It was caused by assumptions—that everyone’s paying attention, signaling, or sober. Spoiler: they aren’t.

Tempe Intersections That Are Getting Worse

Interestingly, some intersections weren’t always bad. But in the last year, we’ve seen a spike in incidents at:

• Broadway Rd & McClintock Dr

• Rural Rd & Guadalupe Rd

• Mill Ave & Rio Salado Pkwy

What changed?

• Construction detours

• Lane closures pushing traffic into tighter quarters

• New developments increasing vehicle and pedestrian flow

These “rising danger zones” often catch people by surprise, especially in Holdeman and Meyer Park, where residential and commercial zones overlap tightly.

What to Do If You Crash at One of These Intersections

Here’s the first thing: get everything documented. These intersections are known hot zones, which means insurers already suspect shared fault.

Your phone camera and medical report may be your best protection.

Then? Call a Tempe attorney who handles intersection crashes daily. We’ve worked on dozens of cases at these exact spots. We know the street layouts, the traffic cam angles, and even which adjusters are assigned to high-volume zones.

If you're wondering how fault is assigned in these kinds of crashes, Arizona's comparative negligence rules apply—outlined clearly at azcourts.gov. But don’t try to decipher those without help. Fault gets tricky when multiple cars are involved, or pedestrians enter the mix.

Can You Sue the City If the Design Is Unsafe?

Yes—but it’s harder than you’d think.

If an intersection's design contributed to your crash, and the city failed to address known risks, a government liability claim may be possible. But you’ll need to act fast—Arizona gives you 180 days to file a Notice of Claim against a public entity.

In these cases, a Tempe government liability accident attorney is critical. You’ll need engineering reports, crash history, and often expert testimony to prove city negligence.

You can review government claim procedures at az.gov, but again—don’t do this alone.

How to Stay Safer at Tempe’s Worst Intersections

We’d love to say “just drive carefully,” but let’s be honest—you already are. The problem is, the person coming the other way might not be.

What you can do is:

• Avoid risky left turns at known danger spots

• Use turn signals early, especially during high-traffic hours

• Pause before entering green lights, especially at Rural & University

• Use a dashcam—it’s one of the best defenses in disputed fault cases

• Know the data—if you're in South Tempe or near Escalante, crash volume tends to rise during weekends

And if you’re ever involved in a crash at one of these intersections—no matter how “minor” it seems—talk to a Tempe crash attorney who already knows the map. Don’t let geography decide your case.