Rear-end collisions, work zone wrecks, and distracted driving now account for dozens of crashes on the Turnpike every month
For anyone who’s spent time on Interstate 95 between Augusta and Waterville, the experience can be nerve-racking. What should be an easy twenty-mile stretch of highway has turned into one of Maine’s most stressful drives. Speeding, tailgating, distracted drivers, and constant construction zones have created the perfect storm for car accidents, and the people who travel it every day are sounding the alarm.
What makes this stretch on the Turnpike so dangerous?
If you ask Matthew Marshall, who drives from Ripley to Bath for work, the problem isn’t the road itself; it’s the people on it. “That is what I consider the death zone,” he said of the section between Augusta and Waterville, per a report by centralmaine.com. Marshall logs about 200 miles a day, and what he sees has left him both frustrated and shaken.
He’s watched cars fly by well above 90 miles an hour, witnessed drivers weaving through lanes, and even seen people applying makeup while cruising in the breakdown lane. “It all boils down to people not driving smart,” he said. “They’re taking risks they don’t need to be taking.”
His wife, Lori, has had her own close calls. On one morning commute, a cast-iron skillet flew off a truck ahead of her and shattered her windshield. Luckily, she wasn’t hurt. Stories like theirs aren’t rare, and for many who travel this corridor, reckless driving has become an everyday sight.
How bad is the crash problem on this part of the interstate?
Data from the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) paints a troubling picture. Between July 1 and Sept. 30, there were 72 crashes on the Turnpike between Fairfield and Hallowell, roughly one crash every 1.3 days.
Of those, 15 were rear-end collisions caused by drivers following too closely. Thirteen were sideswipes from people failing to yield or stay in their lane. Fourteen happened in or near work zones, and 11 involved distracted driving. The rest were caused by drivers speeding, falling asleep, hydroplaning, or operating “in an erratic, reckless, careless, negligent or aggressive manner,” according to the DOT.
While fatal crashes on this stretch have been relatively low, the frequency of other collisions shows how unsafe the area has become. With more traffic, more construction, and more distracted drivers, it’s not hard to see why.
What are state officials doing about it?
State officials know this corridor is a problem. Andrew Gobeil, spokesperson for the Maine DOT, said the department takes safety “in all aspects of our work” seriously, especially in construction zones. “One crash in a work zone is one too many,” he said.
The DOT tracks traffic flow and uses message boards, flaggers, and social media to alert drivers about upcoming lane closures or congestion. There’s also a continuous traffic counter south of Waterville showing that peak travel time on weekdays is around 7 a.m., right in the middle of the morning rush.
Lauren Stewart, who directs the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, said the state is facing a “crisis” when it comes to roadway fatalities. “People are simply driving too fast and too aggressively,” she said. “They’re not paying attention to work zone signs or speed limits, they’re using their phones, and some are impaired by alcohol or drugs.”
As of early October, 141 people had died in crashes across Maine in 2024, a higher number than at the same point in each of the past three years. To combat the trend, the Bureau is launching new public service announcements and offering grant funding to help police departments dedicate overtime to traffic enforcement targeting speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving.
What are local commuters saying about the problem?
For Erica Lavallee-Gustafson of Waterville, who drives to Augusta a few times a week, the situation feels worse than ever. “I’ve witnessed multiple fender benders, along with others that end up in ditches,” she said. “Honestly, I can’t say there is one part of the stretch worse than another. It feels like a dark cloud is always hanging over it.”
She blames much of the chaos on impatience and entitlement. “Everyone is always in such a hurry to get somewhere,” she said. “I see people refusing to let others merge when there’s clearly room, and the road rage is getting worse.”
Construction has added to the stress. Lavallee-Gustafson said many drivers ignore warning signs about lane closures and speed ahead just to cut back in line. “You can drive along two miles and see the signs that say construction ahead, but people still race down the closure trying to squeeze in. It’s frustrating, and it’s dangerous.”
What’s driving this behavior?
Part of it comes down to traffic patterns. Augusta and Waterville are two of central Maine’s busiest hubs, with thousands of commuters using the Turnpike every weekday. More on-ramps and exits, combined with summer tourism and ongoing roadwork, have made the area more congested.
But as Matthew Marshall points out, it’s not just about volume. “I think it has everything to do with the people,” he said. “They’re taking risks they don’t need to be taking.”
He believes law enforcement could make an impact by surprising drivers by parking in less obvious locations so people can’t predict when they’re being watched. “If people didn’t know where the cruisers were, maybe they’d think twice before speeding or tailgating,” he said.
What can drivers do to stay safe?
There’s no substitute for patience and focus. The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety continues to stress these basic safety measures for drivers:
- Obey speed limits: Slowing down even a few miles per hour can make the difference between a near-miss and a crash.
- Put the phone away: Even quick glances at texts or navigation apps can lead to serious collisions.
- Give other drivers space: Following too closely is one of the most common causes of rear-end crashes on I-95.
- Stay calm in work zones: Merging early and respecting flaggers keeps everyone safer and traffic moving.
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To help address Maine’s growing roadway dangers, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein sponsors the “Arrive Alive” contest, a statewide campaign that gives high school seniors a creative platform to inspire safe driving. Students submit videos, posters, essays, and digital campaigns to prevent crashes and remind their communities to stay focused and drive responsibly.
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