Take the road less traveled; this highway in the U.S is called the Death Highway; here's why

The traffic on the US Route 285 which is infamously known as the ‘Death Highway’ has surged dramatically due to the oil boom in the Permian Basin over the past decade, reported Daily Mail.

According to Daily Mail, the highway which actually connects Pecos located in Texas to Carlsbad located in New Mexico has eventually become a very critical route for transporting oil and gas supplies while resulting in a significant increase in heavy truck traffic. Between the year 2016 and the year 2021, the northern stretch of US 285 recorded 839 crashes while at the same time, the southern portion saw 540 crashes from the year 2015 to the year 2019 and contributed to its reputation as one of the deadliest roads ever existed in the US.

In the year 2022 alone, TxDOT reported over 26,000 crashes in the Permian Basin with 394 fatalities. The dangerous region accounts for a disproportionate number of traffic deaths relative to its population, asserted Daily Mail.


The contributing factors actually include driver fatigue from long hours in the oil industry, severe distractions and substance abuse, noted Daily Mail. The state officials are actually working on infrastructure improvements to widen the road and enhance safety measures.

In spite of these efforts, US 285 still remain a significant hazardous route due to its design and the overwhelming volume of commercial traffic.

FAQs:

Which US route is being termed as the Death Highway?

The US Route 285 is being termed as the Death Highway.

What are the locations that US Route 285 connects and why is it critical?

US Route 285 which actually connects Pecos located in Texas to Carlsbad located in New Mexico has eventually become a very critical route for transporting oil and gas supplies while resulting in a significant increase in heavy truck traffic.