Kansas City’s Most Dangerous Intersections: 2025 Update

Ninety‑seven people lost their lives on Kansas City streets in 2024, and hundreds more suffered injuries that will impact them for decades. Crash maps show the same crossroads glowing red year after year. Knowing where the danger hides is the first step toward staying out of an ambulance.

This 2025 update spotlights the dangerous intersections still putting drivers, walkers and cyclists at risk. Even after speed‑hump rollouts and Vision Zero projects, some intersections just keep appearing in top ten lists year after year.

Never assume someone else will drive safely, and share this warning with friends and family.

Why intersection crash rates keep rising

Traffic keeps growing faster than the road network. App deliveries reward minutes saved, not lives spared. Add distracted driving, winter blizzard, ice, and lane drops, and you have a recipe for bumper‑to‑bumper roulette at major crossroads.

Top ten dangerous intersections for 2025

Pay special attention to these high-risk Kansas City intersections:

1. I‑435 & I‑70 – Stadium traffic funnels thousands of cars into tight cloverleafs. Sudden speed changes and late lane moves trigger chain‑reaction rear‑enders, especially after Chiefs or Royals games.
2. Oak Street & Truman Road – This downtown corner is one of Missouri’s most dangerous. Heavy commuters, tourists, and delivery vans must share lanes designed for half today’s volume.
3. US‑71 (Bruce Watkins) & Gregory Boulevard – High‑speeds, gaps, mistimed signals, and blind curves leave drivers stranded in the box when the lights flip.
4. 23rd Street & I‑435 – Sharp ramp angles and constant truck traffic shorten stopping distances and hide small cars until the last second. Truck accidents are common.
5. Prospect Avenue & 63rd Street – Tight corners, minimal signage, and steady pedestrian crossings produce side‑impact crashes almost daily.
6. 31st Street & Van Brunt Boulevard – Offset lanes confuse right‑of‑way decisions. Night glare from strip‑mall lights worsens misjudgments.
7. Bannister Road & 71 Highway – Aggressive freeway speeds collide with short turn pockets, causing T‑bone impacts during rush hour.
8. 87th Street & I‑435 – Exit spacing is so tight that signals, brake lights, and merge markers appear at once on slick pavement.
9. Ward Parkway & 75th Street – Shopping traffic, joggers, and fading crosswalk paint create unpredictable stop‑and‑go patterns.
10. Southwest Trafficway & Westport Road – Five roads knot together in Old Westport. GPS directions lag, tourists drift into bus lanes, and cyclists thread through fenders. This intersection is notoriously dangerous.

Why are these intersections dangerous?

Skewed angles, fading lane paint, signal timing, gaps, poor lighting, and big speed differences form a perfect storm. Until those design flaws change, another motorist’s half‑second mistake can catch even textbook‑safe drivers off guard.

Common crash scenarios

Here are some of the most commonly encountered crash scenarios:

• A driver running a red light.
• A driver making a left turn into high-speed traffic.
• A driver rear-ends another motorist.
• A driver fails to see a pedestrian on unlit medians.

Beware, because this is only the tip of the iceberg of possible accidents.

Steps to protect yourself

Defensive driving can cut your risk of a car accident in half:

• Slow down to at least ten mph below the speed limit on your approach to a dangerous intersection.
• Keep your headlights on during the daytime for maximum visibility.
• Treat every green light like a flashing yellow light until you clear the box. You never know when an oncoming driver might delight in treating a red light like a green light.

Run possible crash scenarios in your head while you are driving. After a while, this habit will become almost second nature.

Economic impact you don’t see on the news

A single ambulance ride from I‑435 & I‑70 to the Research Medical Center can cost you a week’s paycheck. Add CT scans, lost overtime, childcare, and a rental car, and an “average” intersection crash can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars.

A serious crash can cost much more money in medical bills, lost productivity, and emergency‑response costs. Those dollars ripple outward, raising premiums and straining trauma‑care resources city‑wide.

Missouri comparative fault rules–in plain English

Missouri applies the principle of pure comparative fault. Even if you share some of the blame for a crash, you can recover damages—but any award is cut by your percentage of fault. Solid evidence from dangerous intersections keeps that percentage low and preserves more of your settlement.

Dashcam evidence can tilt the scales of justice in your favor

Dashcam video records, ignition timing, weather, and speed better than memory. When an adjuster watches the other driver run a red light, the issue shifts from finger‑pointing to compensation.

Store the memory card immediately and create cloud backups before erasing any footage. Destroying a video after a claim begins can trigger harsh court penalties for spoliation of evidence.

What to do after a collision

Take the following steps after a collision, to the extent that your injuries allow:

• Move to a safe spot and call 911.
• Seek medical attention if you have suffered any impact at all. Symptoms of certain types of injuries, such as traumatic brain injury and soft tissue injuries like whiplash, can take hours or even days to manifest.
• Photograph skid marks, signal faces, and the positions of the vehicles on the road after a collision. If you have to move the vehicles out of the road to ensure safety, however, prioritize safety over evidence collection.
• Collect the names of bystanders and passengers.
• Delay making any detailed statements until you have legal guidance. You could damage your claim without realizing it.

The sooner you seek legal help, the better.

Hidden trauma beyond broken bones

Long after casts come off, many crash survivors struggle with invisible symptoms like concussion fog or PTSD at stoplights. These invisible wounds deserve the same attention as fractures when settlement talks begin. Sleepless nights and panic at crosswalks show up on damage spreadsheets, too.

Vision Zero and future fixes

The Kansas City Council has doubled its Vision Zero funding and hired consultants to redesign the ten deadliest crossings, starting with Troost Avenue. Protected bike lanes, signal re‑timing, and pedestrian islands are planned, but collisions will continue until the shovels hit the pavement.

Seek seasoned advocates to fight for you

Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys provides dedicated representation for injury victims throughout Missouri and Kansas. Reach out for a free, no‑obligation case review today.