Which U.S. Cities Have the Worst Drivers? Ranking America's Most Dangerous Roads

Fatal traffic crashes have become an alarming concern across the United States, with death rates climbing approximately 10% between 2020 and 2022. While accidents occur everywhere, certain cities stand out for their particularly hazardous driving environments. Understanding which cities have the worst drivers in the us is essential for both residents and travelers, as these areas present elevated collision risks and insurance implications. Forbes Advisor conducted a comprehensive analysis of the 50 most populous American cities to identify where dangerous driving behavior poses the greatest threat to public safety.

Top 10 U.S. Cities With The Most Dangerous Drivers

1. Albuquerque, New Mexico — Risk Score: 100/100

Albuquerque emerges as America’s most dangerous city for drivers, presenting multiple hazardous conditions that threaten motorist safety. The city’s troubling statistics include:

Distracted Driving Crisis: Albuquerque leads the nation with 5.42 fatal accidents per 100,000 residents involving distracted drivers—the highest rate among all analyzed cities. This indicates a severe problem with texting, phone use, and other attention-diverting behaviors behind the wheel.

Overall Fatal Accident Rate: The city ranks third nationally with 17.11 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents, contributing to 18.11 deaths per 100,000 residents—the third highest mortality rate.

Speeding And Impaired Driving: Albuquerque also struggles with speed-related accidents (5.56 per 100,000 residents, ranking fifth) and drunk driving incidents (4.67 per 100,000 residents, sixth highest), creating a compound safety problem.

2. Memphis, Tennessee — Risk Score: 98.51/100

Memphis rivals Albuquerque for the distinction of having the worst drivers in the us, trailing only marginally in the overall safety rankings. This Tennessee city exhibits particularly severe metrics:

Highest Total Fatal Accidents: Memphis records 24.18 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents—the worst rate among all cities studied. Additionally, the mortality rate reaches 25.96 deaths per 100,000 residents, indicating accidents here are particularly severe.

Drunk Driving Epidemic: Most alarming, Memphis has the highest prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving, with 7.5 fatal accidents involving drunk drivers per 100,000 residents—substantially higher than other cities. This suggests a significant culture of impaired driving.

3. Detroit, Michigan — Risk Score: 94.97/100

Detroit maintains consistently elevated danger levels across multiple driving safety categories:

• Total fatal accidents: 19.76 per 100,000 residents (second highest)
• Drunk driving incidents: 6.54 per 100,000 residents (second highest)
• Speeding-related fatalities: 6.8 per 100,000 residents (second highest nationally)
• Total deaths: 21.47 per 100,000 residents

The consistency of Detroit’s poor performance across all metrics demonstrates systemic safety issues rather than isolated problems.

4. Tucson, Arizona — Risk Score: 93.02/100

Tucson’s dangerous driving environment manifests across multiple dimensions:

• Fourth highest total fatal accidents (16.21 per 100,000 residents)
• Fourth highest mortality rate (17.02 deaths per 100,000 residents)
• Sixth highest speeding-related fatalities (4.94 per 100,000 residents)
• Tenth highest drunk driving incidents (4.35 per 100,000 residents)

5. Kansas City, Missouri — Risk Score: 91.19/100

Kansas City distinguishes itself with the highest concentration of speed-related accidents in America—7.07 fatal crashes per 100,000 residents involving speeding. The city also records:

• Fourth highest drunk driving fatalities (5.34 per 100,000 residents)
• Fifth highest total accidents (15.71 per 100,000 residents)
• Fifth highest death rate (16.85 per 100,000 residents)

6. Dallas, Texas — Risk Score: 90.97/100

Dallas barely trails Kansas City, differing by just 0.22 points in the safety index. The city faces considerable challenges:

• Third highest drunk driving incidents (6.25 per 100,000 residents)
• Fourth highest speeding-related accidents (5.69 per 100,000 residents)
• Seventh highest total fatal crashes (14.61 per 100,000 residents)
• Seventh highest mortality rate (15.77 per 100,000 residents)

7. Louisville, Kentucky — Risk Score: 83.88/100

Beyond its famous Derby, Louisville harbors significant traffic dangers:

• Fifth highest distracted driving fatalities (1.47 per 100,000 residents)
• Ninth highest total fatal accidents (14.25 per 100,000 residents)
• Tenth highest death rate (14.99 per 100,000 residents)

8. Phoenix, Arizona — Risk Score: 80.65/100

As Arizona’s second most dangerous driving city after Tucson, Phoenix exhibits:

• Tenth highest speeding-related accidents (3.86 per 100,000 residents)
• Eleventh highest total fatal crashes (13.85 per 100,000 residents)
• Eleventh highest mortality rate (14.59 per 100,000 residents)

9. Fort Worth, Texas — Risk Score: 78.03/100

Just three positions behind Dallas, Fort Worth demonstrates similar dangerous driving patterns:

• Fifth highest drunk driving fatalities (4.7 per 100,000 residents)
• Eleventh highest distracted driving incidents (0.92 per 100,000 residents)
• Twelfth highest speeding-related accidents (3.68 per 100,000 residents)

10. Tampa, Florida — Risk Score: 77.13/100

Completing the top ten list of cities with the worst drivers in the us, Tampa records:

• Eighth highest total fatal accidents (14.47 per 100,000 residents)
• Ninth highest death rate (15.42 per 100,000 residents)
• Fourteenth highest distracted driving fatalities (0.75 per 100,000 residents)

Understanding The Connection Between Dangerous Driving And Insurance Costs

Reckless driving behavior directly translates to higher insurance premiums. Insurance companies meticulously analyze accident records, traffic violations, and claims history to calculate premiums based on individual risk profiles. Cities with the worst drivers in the us experience broader impacts, as high-risk driving patterns affect regional insurance rates.

Specific violations—speeding tickets, distracted driving incidents, DUI convictions, and at-fault accidents—substantially increase insurance costs. Insurance firms view these behaviors as clear indicators of collision probability and claim likelihood. Maintaining a clean driving record with minimal violations remains the most effective strategy for securing affordable coverage.

For consumers seeking competitive rates, comparing quotes across providers is essential. Insurance costs fluctuate based on driving history, vehicle type, coverage level, and geographic location. Drivers in high-risk cities must exercise greater caution and pursue defensive driving courses to potentially offset elevated premiums.

Research Methodology: How The Analysis Was Conducted

Forbes Advisor ranked the 50 most populous U.S. cities using five weighted safety metrics, all derived from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality and Injury Reporting System:

1. Fatal crashes per 100,000 residents (24% weighting) — The primary indicator of overall traffic fatality risk
2. Drunk driving fatalities per 100,000 residents (19% weighting) — Measured using blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels of 0.08% or higher
3. Distracted driving fatalities per 100,000 residents (19% weighting) — Capturing accidents involving inattention or phone use
4. Speed-related fatalities per 100,000 residents (19% weighting) — Documenting accidents where excessive speed was a contributing factor
5. Total deaths in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents (19% weighting) — Measuring overall mortality severity

The analysis employed a five-year averaging period (2017–2021) to smooth year-to-year fluctuations. Population figures were sourced from the 2022 U.S. Census Bureau data. This comprehensive approach ensures rankings reflect established traffic safety trends rather than single-year anomalies.