Arizona is blessed with a number of excellent driving roads, but with the twists and turns comes the potential for disaster to strike.

The solution is to know which highways pose the biggest threat, and adjust your driving accordingly. 

Here’s a look at the state’s most perilous routes, and what makes them so risky.

Apache Trail

What sets this road apart from many others is that while it is well known and frequently used, it’s also not covered with asphalt for much of its length, but instead retains a top surface of compacted earth.

This means that in addition to the curves that carve their way through the rocky, arid landscape, there’s also the potential for a little rainfall to make the Apache Trail even more calamitous.

If you do get involved in a collision on this or any other road in Arizona, contacting the team at Hutzler Law and hiring an experienced car accident attorney is a good move. Their knowledge of local laws that apply to motorists will help you immensely, especially when claiming for compensation.

Coronado Trail

In a route riddled with hairpin bends and hundreds of other gentler curves, don’t be surprised if the biggest threat you face is other drivers rather than the highway or the natural elements.

Problems arise when there’s a mix of first-timers and seasoned motorists trying to share the road at the same time.

It’s best to hang back and resist the temptation to tailgate, only overtaking when it is safe and legal to do so. There are lots of safe driving habits worth developing whenever and wherever you are behind the wheel, so don’t get sloppy.

State Route 77

What we’ve not mentioned so far is that these potentially deadly routes through Arizona are also some of the most picturesque. In fact they really benefit from being integrated into an all-day travel plan which includes stop-offs to enjoy the view.

That’s true of state Route 77, which meanders through canyons, alongside rivers, and over hills and mountains.

If you take its curves at a sedate pace, you’ll have nothing to worry about. It’s as soon as you start to get reckless that problems might arise, so ease off on the gas and apply the brakes in plenty of time.

Interstate 17

Moving away from rural roads and onto the busier routes through Arizona, Interstate 17 passes through Flagstaff and on to Phoenix, covering a total of 145 miles and accommodating millions of motorists annually.

Once again the natural beauty of the landscape is breathtaking, but with more people on the road there is also a higher likelihood of multi-car collisions occurring.

This is further exacerbated because portions of the interstate pass through high altitude regions, which means that they can be subject to extreme weather conditions during the colder months, and can even be hazardous at times of the year where lower lying roads are completely free from issues like ice.

Purple Heart Trail

Otherwise referred to as Interstate 40, this trail is a potential problem for drivers because it is often dominated by trucks hauling commercial loads across the country.

There are also frequent concerns caused by icy conditions over the winter, and by forest fires when summer arrives. So it’s not just curves and inexperienced drivers that you need to be on the lookout for.

Final thoughts

There’s fun and adventure to be had if you head out onto the highways of Arizona, but you need to know the risks as well. Any road can be deadly, it’s just about how you handle it.