What's the Most Dangerous Intersection in Tewksbury?

TEWKSBURY, MA - Motor vehicle fatalities were up across the country and in Massachusetts in 2015, according to a study by the National Safety Council.

According to Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s map of dangerous intersections, Tewksbury has two of the most dangerous driving areas in the Commonwealth.

The intersection of South Street and Salem Road is the 46th most dangerous spot in Massachusetts, according to the data. The intersection saw 66 accidents, 19 with injuries between 2011 and 2013.

The intersection of Main Street and Clark Road ranked 60 on the list. That intersection saw 86 crashes, 12 with injuries during the same time period.

According to the recent study, the number of motor-vehicle deaths in the United States in 2015 totaled 38,300, up 8 percent from 2014. The increase was not as dramatic in Massachusetts, which saw 354 traffic fatalities in 2015, a 2 percent increase from the 348 deaths in 2014 and a 6 percent increase from the 334 deaths in 2013.

Nationwide, the estimated annual mileage death rate is 1.22 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, an increase of 5 percent from the 2014 rate.

The National Security Council reports that the larger jump in the raw numbers is the result of lower gasoline prices and an improving economy, resulting in an estimated 3.5 percent increase in motor-vehicle mileage.

Neighboring Vermont saw the biggest percentage increase in traffic fatalities over the past year, up 30 percent. However, the overall number of fatalities was still fairly low, increasing from 44 in 2014 to 57 in 2015.

New Mexico saw the biggest decrease, 20 percent, of traffic fatalities over the past year.

“The estimated cost of motor-vehicle deaths, injuries, and property damage in 2015 was $412.1 billion,” the report states. “The costs include wage and productivity losses, medical expenses, administrative expenses, employer costs, and property damage.”

- Adam Swift (Patch Staff) contributed to this report