Illinois’ Deadliest Roads and Fatal Accident Statistics

MoneyGeek analyzed 2,976 fatal motor vehicle accidents across 1,812 Illinois roads from 2018 to 2020, out of the state's 306,658 road miles.

The data show how speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving contributed to fatal crashes. Seasonal factors, including time of year and winter weather conditions, were also part of the study. County-level data identifies the deadliest road in each Illinois county.

• Ashland Ave. from W. 74th St. to W. 47th St. in Chicago is Illinois's deadliest stretch of road. Between 2018 and 2020, nine fatal accidents occurred here.
• Speeding appeared in 38.9% of Illinois fatal crashes from 2018 to 2020 (1,159 of 2,976), more than any other contributing factor. Drunk driving ranked second at 26.5%.
• Distracted driving appeared in 12.2% of fatal accidents, the lowest rate among measured behaviors. MoneyGeek's distracted driving study still ranked Illinois eighth-worst in the U.S.
• From 2018 to 2020, July recorded the most fatal accidents of any month at 312. August had 296, and September had 291. Illinois ranked 10th nationally for winter driving fatalities, yet its deadliest months fell in summer and early fall.
• Cook County had the most fatal accidents in Illinois. Most of its crashes occurred on I-57.

MoneyGeek found that 26.5% of Illinois's 2,976 fatal crashes from 2018 to 2020 involved drunk driving.

Illinois sets the legal intoxication threshold at 0.08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Impairment can begin at 0.02% BAC, roughly equivalent to two drinks. At that level, mood shifts. The ability to track moving objects and handle multiple tasks at once also suffers.

A DUI conviction in Illinois carries penalties that include restricted driving privileges, fines and jail time. Convicted drivers must also carry SR-22 car insurance, which costs more than standard policies. Cheap car insurance becomes harder to find after a DUI.

Speeding appeared in 38.9% of fatal accidents in Illinois from 2018 to 2020, or 1,159 of the 2,976 recorded crashes.

Higher speeds reduce a driver's ability to control the vehicle and increase crash rates. They also amplify the force of impact, which reduces the effectiveness of safety equipment such as airbags and seatbelts.

Distracted driving contributed to 12.2% of fatal crashes in Illinois from 2018 to 2020, or 362 deaths. Illinois bans the use of mobile phones and electronic devices while driving, yet MoneyGeek’s distracted driving study ranked the state eighth-worst in the U.S.

July was the deadliest month in Illinois from 2018 to 2020, with 312 fatal accidents, or 10.5% of all deadly crashes in the study period.

July fell within the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day when crash rates rose, especially among teen drivers. August (296 crashes) and September (291) had the next-highest fatal accident counts.

Illinois ranked 10th most dangerous in the country in MoneyGeek's winter driving study. Its peak crash months still fell in summer and early fall.

Full coverage car insurance in Illinois averages $1,134 a year. Rates vary by city: drivers in Aurora pay around $837 a year, $297 below the state figure. In Chicago, full coverage auto insurance averages $1,134 a year.

Insurers set premiums based on factors including driver age, driving history and vehicle type. MoneyGeek's rankings of the cheapest car insurance companies show how costs differ across major providers for the same driver profile.

The five Illinois counties with the most fatal accidents account for 46% of all recorded crashes from 2018 to 2020, or 1,362 deaths. Cook County had the highest count at 869. Most of those crashes occurred on I-57. Speeding and distracted driving were the most common contributing factors.

MoneyGeek analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) for 2018, 2019 and 2020. At the time of analysis, 2020 was the most recent year available in the database.