Is State Route 429 safe?

Analysis

In 2016 Everquote named Interstate 4 the most deadly interstate highway in America. State Route 429 is not an interstate highway, but the recent spate of accidents makes one wonder if State Route 429 is on track to be added to the list of the most dangerous highways in the country.

According to the City of Apopka, there have been at least six accidents requiring action by the Apopka Fire Department on 429 or at a 429 interchange in the last 11 days:

• On Friday, January 27th, Apopka firefighters responded to a vehicle crash with a fire at State Route 429 and the connector road near U.S. Highway 441.
• A few hours later, at 2:30 AM, Apopka firefighters responded at to a second vehicle crash in the exact same location of the fiery car crash just a few hours earlier. A truck appeared to drive into and over the concrete barrier that the car hit at State Route 429 and the connector road near U.S. Highway 441.
• A few hours later the Apopka Fire Department responded to a two-vehicle accident, again on 429. This one involved a vehicle rollover. Six patients were transported to area hospitals. The southbound side of State Road 429 was closed during the accident investigation.
• On February 1st Apopka police, fire and streets departments responded to a vehicle crash at State Road 429 and the connector road to U.S. Highway 441. The crash involved a tow truck and another truck pulling a trailer full of roofing materials, which spilled out onto the roadway.
• On February 3rd Apopka firefighters responded to a vehicle crash involving a semi-tractor on southbound State Road 429 near State Road 414.
• On February 5th Apopka firefighters responded to a vehicle fire on northbound State Road 429 near State Road 414. No injuries were reported.

The Apopka Voice asked the Apopka Police Department about the accident activity on State Road 429 and were told there were many factors to consider including; construction, increased use, speed, and design.

Three of the reported accidents involved the 429 connector road at 441. According to Mary Brooks, Public Information Officer for the Wekiva Parkway project, the Central Florida Expressway Authority is reviewing the pavement striping near the north end of 429. They are reviewing data from the northbound ramp speed sensors.

"Drivers need to be extra vigilant in work zones because of changing traffic patterns," said Brooks.

The speed limit on 429 was raised to 70 MPH two years ago after studies indicated higher traveling speeds are not necessarily associated with an increased risk of being involved in a crash.

It is not certain there has been an actual increase in accidents, only that there seems to be more accidents being reported via social media.