Every year, thousands of fatal accidents happen on U.S. roads, but some cities stand out as significantly more dangerous than others.
Using recent data from the Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the number of vehicles involved in fatal accidents per 100,000 residents, the team at Maison Law ranked the most and least accident-prone cities across the country. Here’s what we found.
Memphis, Tennessee tops the list, with more than 43 vehicles in fatal accidents per 100,000 residents.
Other cities with notably high accident rates include Jackson, Mississippi (36.8), Gillette, Wyoming (35.5), Ocala, Florida (35.4), and Macon, Georgia (35.0).
These cities present some of the highest risks for drivers in the country.
On the other end of the spectrum, Arlington, Virginia stands out as the least accident-prone city, with only 2.5 vehicles in fatal accidents per 100,000 residents.
Boston, Massachusetts (3.5), Cambridge, Massachusetts (3.9), Yonkers, New York (4.4), and New York City (4.6) also rank among the safest large cities for drivers.
Across the country, many states have stand out cities where drivers face significantly lower risks. For example, Anchorage, Alaska reports just 6.2 vehicles in fatal accidents per 100,000 residents, compared to Juneau’s 12.7. In Colorado, Denver has a relatively low rate of 13.4, making it safer than Aurora (15.4). In New Jersey, Jersey City shines as one of the safest urban areas, with only 4.9 vehicles in fatal accidents per 100,000 residents. These cities serve as examples of how strong traffic safety policies, public awareness campaigns, and investment in infrastructure can help keep roads safer for everyone.
Many factors influence local accident rates, including road design, enforcement of traffic laws, traffic congestion, and the availability of reliable public transportation. Cities that invest in infrastructure improvements, traffic enforcement, and public transit tend to have safer roads.
Regardless of where you live, every driver can help reduce fatal accidents by avoiding speeding and staying focused on the road. Together, we can work toward safer roads across the nation. If you do find yourself having to deal with the repercussions of a car accident, you can contact Maison Law to learn more about your legal options. With a free, confidential case evaluation, Maison Law will be happy to answer your questions and determine the best course of action for your case.
