Mesa's US-60 Corridor: A Daily Commuter Crash Zone

If you commute through Mesa on the US-60 Superstition Freeway, you’re driving one of the most dangerous highways in Arizona. Our NHTSA FARS analysis ranks the US-60 as the second-deadliest highway in the state with 253 fatal crashes from 2015-2022 — second only to I-10’s 447.

Why the US-60 Is So Dangerous

Volume vs. capacity mismatch. Mesa’s explosive population growth has put the US-60 under enormous strain. Rush-hour congestion is a daily reality, particularly between Country Club Drive and Power Road.

Interchange bottlenecks. The US-60/Loop 202 interchange and the US-60/Loop 101 interchange are high-crash zones where merging traffic creates constant conflict.

Speed differentials. During congestion, some lanes are stopped while others are still moving at 50+ MPH. This creates dangerous speed differentials that produce severe rear-end collisions and multi-vehicle pileups.

East Mesa transitions. As the US-60 continues east past Power Road, it transitions from urban freeway to semi-rural highway. Speed limits increase, lighting decreases, and drowsy driving becomes a factor for commuters heading to and from the far East Valley and Apache Junction.

Commuter Crash Patterns

Morning rush (6:30-8:30 AM westbound) and evening rush (4:00-6:30 PM eastbound) account for the majority of US-60 crashes. The most common types are rear-end collisions in stop-and-go traffic, sideswipe crashes during lane changes, and merge-related collisions at interchange on-ramps.

Protect Yourself on the US-60

Maintain a safe following distance — the 3-second rule at minimum. Install a dashcam. Carry UIM coverage well above the $25,000 minimum. And if you’re rear-ended, don’t let the insurance company minimize your injuries — whiplash from a high-speed rear-end collision can cause chronic pain.

If you’ve been in a US-60 crash, call (833) DTF-IGHT. We handle cases throughout the Mesa corridor.