Montana’s Most Accident-Prone Roads Revealed

Montana has some of the most beautiful scenery and best road trip-worthy places in the country. We are familiar with this fact. We are also pretty darn familiar with the fact our roads can be dangerous as well. We have extremely high DUI rates, we’re one of the most likely states to hit wild game, and of course, winter can quickly turn a road into an ice-skating rink. Recently, the Montana Free Press conducted a study, and its findings were truly interesting, adding to the not-so-fun road statistic reality we have here in Big Sky Country.

Living in Montana means a lot of time behind the wheel. With highways stretching for miles between tiny towns and endless fields, accidents can happen fast and far from help. Most fatal crashes (90%) happen outside city limits, which makes sense given how much of the state is wide open. While interstates tend to be safer thanks to ramps and fewer intersections, the smaller highways are another story entirely. Some stretches of road, especially older ones that twist over mountain passes, have crash rates far above the state average.

One segment that really caught my eye was Bozeman Pass on I-90 between Bozeman and Livingston. It’s a busy stretch with plenty of sharp turns, and according to the study it’s one of the most accident-prone interstates in Montana. That is truly startling to me since I drive that section twice a day, and I know plenty of locals who do the same.

So, next time you’re heading over the pass, ease off the gas, keep both hands on the wheel. Keep your head on a swivel Montana! We’ve got to be extra careful on these roads!