10 Cities Where Bad Drivers Are Costing You Money

Have you ever been nervous on a plane and had someone tell you that you’re much more likely to get into a car accident than a plane crash? This is inarguably true, but it doesn’t highlight just how dangerous life on the roads can be. In 2020, there were 5,250,873 police-reported car accidents, according to the NHTSA. That amounts to about 14,386 accidents per day — one car crash every six minutes.

Even if you’re lucky enough to emerge from a car crash unscathed, an accident is often a huge and expensive hassle. It could lead to pricey repairs, increased auto insurance rates or even a costly lawsuit.

Though this isn’t a local problem — car crashes happen pretty much everywhere there are cars and people to drive them — some cities are more infamous for bad drivers than others. As such, these cities see more car accidents than others.

Forbes Advisor published a study earlier this year that identified the 10 cities in the U.S. with the worst drivers. Forbes Advisor used metrics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool.

Here’s a look at the 10 U.S. cities with the worst drivers. Is yours on the list?

• Number of fatal car crashes from 2017 to 2021, per 100,000 residents: 15.42
• Total crashes: 14.47 
• Crashes involving a drink driver: 3.37
• Crashes involving a distracted driver: 0.75
• Crashes involving speeding: 3.06

Total score out of 100 (100 being the worst): 77.13

• Number of fatal car crashes from 2017 to 2021, per 100,000 residents: 11.48 
• Total crashes: 10.60  
• Crashes involving a drink driver: 4.70
• Crashes involving a distracted driver: 0.92
• Crashes involving speeding: 3.68

Total score out of 100: 78.03

• Number of fatal car crashes from 2017 to 2021, per 100,000 residents: 14.59
• Total crashes: 13.85
• Crashes involving a drink driver: 3.93
• Crashes involving a distracted driver: 0.71
• Crashes involving speeding: 3.86

Total score out of 100: 80.65

• Number of fatal car crashes from 2017 to 2021, per 100,000 residents: 14.99
• Total crashes: 14.25
• Crashes involving a drink driver: 3.88
• Crashes involving a distracted driver: 1.47
• Crashes involving speeding: 3.17

Total score out of 100: 83.88

• Number of fatal car crashes from 2017 to 2021, per 100,000 residents: 15.77
• Total crashes: 14.61
• Crashes involving a drink driver: 6.25
• Crashes involving a distracted driver: 0.69
• Crashes involving speeding: 5.69

Total score out of 100: 90.97

• Number of fatal car crashes from 2017 to 2021, per 100,000 residents: 16.85
• Total crashes: 15.71
• Crashes involving a drink driver: 5.34
• Crashes involving a distracted driver: 0.51
• Crashes involving speeding: 7.07

Total score out of 100: 91.19

• Number of fatal car crashes from 2017 to 2021, per 100,000 residents: 17.02
• Total crashes: 16.21
• Crashes involving a drink driver: 4.35
• Crashes involving a distracted driver: 1.10
• Crashes involving speeding: 4.94

Total score out of 100: 93.02

• Number of fatal car crashes from 2017 to 2021, per 100,000 residents: 21.47
• Total crashes: 19.76
• Crashes involving a drink driver: 6.54
• Crashes involving a distracted driver: 0.55
• Crashes involving speeding: 6.80

Total score out of 100: 94.97

• Number of fatal car crashes from 2017 to 2021, per 100,000 residents: 25.96
• Total crashes: 24.18
• Crashes involving a drink driver: 7.50
• Crashes involving a distracted driver: 1.35
• Crashes involving speeding: 3.74

Total score out of 100: 98.51

• Number of fatal car crashes from 2017 to 2021, per 100,000 residents: 18.11
• Total crashes: 17.11
• Crashes involving a drink driver: 4.67
• Crashes involving a distracted driver: 5.42
• Crashes involving speeding: 5.56

Total score out of 100: 100.00