Identifying Cape Cod’s Most Dangerous Intersections 

Data collection plays a vital role in keeping roadways safe and accessible for everyone. Every few years, the Cape Cod Commission updates a list of high-crash intersections to help identify areas in need of safety improvements. By tracking crash trends over time, Commission staff can pinpoint problem areas and prioritize locations for Road Safety Audits, planning studies, and other safety interventions. This list serves as a valuable resource for transportation professionals, guiding strategic investments to make the region’s roads safer for all. 

Using Data to Improve Safety 

A new report analyzing crash data from 2021 to 2023 identifies the region’s high-crash intersections. The report, based on crash data provided by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), presents a series of high-crash location lists. These lists are designed to assist municipal planners, engineers, and law enforcement in prioritizing safety improvements and enforcement strategies. By identifying where crashes occur most frequently—and where they are most severe—local and state agencies can take informed steps to mitigate risks. 

How the Most Dangerous Intersections Are Ranked 

To ensure a comprehensive analysis, the Commission used multiple methodologies to rank high-crash intersections: 

• Total Number of Crashes – Identifies intersections with the highest number of reported crashes. 

• Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO) – Weighs crashes based on severity, prioritizing locations with higher numbers of fatal or injury-related crashes. 

• Crash Rate – Considers the number of crashes relative to traffic volume, ensuring that busy intersections are evaluated fairly. 

• EPDO Rate – Adjusts EPDO scores to account for traffic volume, providing a more accurate risk assessment. 

The report also includes specific rankings for the local intersections of the Route 6 and Route 28 interchange ramps and circular intersections (rotaries and roundabouts)—which were analyzed separately due to their unique traffic patterns. 

Interactive Crash Data at Your Fingertips 

In addition to the report, the Commission has developed the Cape Cod Crash Dashboard, an online tool that allows users to explore crash data visually. This resource provides local officials, researchers, and residents with valuable insights into traffic safety trends on Cape Cod. The dashboard now includes the latest crash data.  

For more details, explore the full report and the Cape Cod Crash Dashboard by visiting: capecodcommission.org/our-work/transportation-safety.

Vision Zero: Improving Safety on Cape Cod's Roadways

Vision Zero is an effort to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Cape Cod’s roadways. The Commission is currently developing the Cape Cod Vision Zero Action Plan, a pathway to a safer future, includes a systematic crash analysis and set of solutions to tackle the region’s most serious and fatal crashes, emphasizing those involving bicyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorists. The Action Plan includes a series of low- to high-cost regional strategies and actions at the region’s most problematic locations. Attend an upcoming public meeting to learn more about the plan.