Exploring the 6 US Cities with Elevated Accident Rates

Driving carries a constant risk of traffic accidents, but this risk is heightened for drivers in crowded urban areas.

Three important metrics were taken into consideration in its report, which examined data for the 50 largest US cities: the likelihood of a crash relative to the national average, the average number of years that drivers go without a collision, and the motor vehicle accident fatality rates.

Six Cities With the Highest Risk for Car Accidents

1. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta has the greatest relative collision likelihood, with the greatest fatality rate per 100,000 residents, as well as the shortest time between collisions per driver.

• 15.8 fatalities per 100,000 people
• 7.07 years on average elapsed between crashes.
• 49.5% is the relative collision likelihood.

2. Maryland’s Baltimore

Baltimore is the city that has the shortest time between collisions per driver, indicating that accidents are more common here. 

There is a higher probability of crashes due in part to the city’s high-speed expressways. Furthermore, relative collision likelihood is highest in this city.

• 10.6 fatalities per 100,000 people
• 4.19 years on average elapsed between crashes.
• Comparative probability of collision: 152.5%

3. Metro Detroit, Michigan

Detroit has the second-most fatality rate per 100,000 residents, just behind Memphis, Tennessee.

• 28.7 deaths for every 100,000 people
• Years on average between crashes: 8.61
• 22.9% is the relative collision likelihood.

4. Tennessee’s Memphis

The city with the highest death rate per 100,000 residents is Memphis, Tennessee.

• 34.3 fatalities per 100,000 people
• 9.05 years on average elapsed between crashes.
• 16.9% is the relative collision likelihood.

5. Houston, Texas

Despite not being in the top 10 on any of three metrics, Houston, Texas, was ranked as the fifth most crash-prone city for drivers.

• 11.5 fatalities per 100,000 people
• Years on average that pass between collisions: 7.66
• 38.1% is the relative collision likelihood.

6. Los Angeles

Relative to the national average, drivers in Los Angeles face the fourth-highest chance of collisions. For drivers, there are usually six years between collisions.

• Deaths from motor vehicles per 100,000 people: 7.1
• An average driver’s years between collisions: 5.81
• Compared to the national average, collision likelihood is 82%.