A new study by Conboy Law Injury & Medical Malpractice Lawyers analyzed 36 U.S. cities to rank the top ten where driving may be less advisable based on an analysis of three primary factors: traffic-related fatalities in urban areas per 100K people, vehicle ownership rates, and traffic delay times. Each city’s overall Driving Risk Score was then calculated as the weighted average of the scaled variables, normalized between 1 and 100, to facilitate interpretation. Cities were ranked according to this score, with higher scores suggesting areas where driving is more hazardous.
Atlanta, Georgia, tops the list with a composite score of 100, marking it as the most challenging city for drivers. 94.7% of the adult population in Atlanta owns a car, which causes significant traffic delays averaging 61 minutes, and makes Atlanta drivers face both crowded roads and time-consuming commutes.
Los Angeles, California, ranks second with a composite score of 94. LA’s average delay time is 89 minutes—one of the longest in the study. While fewer people die from car crashes, with a fatality rate per 100K at 8.9, the immense population and high vehicle ownership at 92.3% contribute to the city’s driving risks.
Jacksonville, Florida, comes in third with a score of 93, driven by high fatality rates and vehicle ownership at 94.6%. Average traffic delays of 66 minutes add to the difficulties of driving in the city.
Nashville, Tennessee, is fourth on the list with a composite score of 90. The city’s vehicle ownership rate is one of the highest in the study at 96%, which, along with a delay time of 56 minutes, makes navigating Nashville particularly challenging for drivers.
Memphis, Tennessee, ranks fifth with a score of 89 and the highest fatality rate of all cities studied, at 33.8 per 100K people. Although Memphis has shorter traffic delays at 12 minutes on average, the elevated fatality rate significantly impacts its ranking, making it one of the riskiest cities for drivers.
Houston, Texas, takes the sixth place with a score of 84. The city has a high volume of traffic-related fatalities and a substantial ownership rate at 94.1%. Its delay time averages 62 minutes, adding to the challenges faced by drivers navigating Houston’s busy roads.
Chicago, Illinois, lands in seventh place with a composite score of 75. The traffic delay time in Chicago is the longest in the study reaching 96 minutes. However, with a lower fatality rate of 6.4 per 100K, Chicago’s rank is primarily impacted by traffic rather than fatalities, making it one of the more overloaded but relatively safer cities.
Dallas, Texas, ranks eighth with a score of 72. The vehicle ownership rate in the city reaches to 95.2% while the traffic delay time is not too high at 38 minutes. With that, however, the city has a higher number of fatalities in a year at 211.
Tucson, Arizona, scores 61, making it the ninth-ranked city. Its high fatality rate of 23.7 per 100K and elevated vehicle ownership rate at 92.9% are significant contributors to its ranking, even though average delay times are low at 14 minutes.
Indianapolis, Indiana, rounds out the list with a score of 57. With a moderate fatality rate and a high ownership rate of 93.9%, Indianapolis has relatively fewer delays at 34 minutes, but still poses challenges for drivers due to road density and accident rates.
A spokesperson from Conboy Law Injury & Medical Malpractice Lawyerscommented on the study: “Driving in busy urban areas poses significant challenges, especially where high vehicle ownership and heavy traffic create a dense, often risky environment. Prolonged traffic delays, combined with a large number of cars on the road, can lead to frustrating commutes and heightened accident risks. Cities with elevated fatality rates highlight the serious hazards of navigating crowded streets. These trends underscore a common issue: as urban areas grow, the need for safer, more efficient traffic solutions becomes critical to support smoother and safer travel for drivers.”
additional notes *
- Memphis, Tennessee, has the highest fatality rates from accidents in urban areas, at 33.8 fatalities per 100K people.
- The city with the longest traffic delay times is Chicago, Illinois, with an average delay of 96 minutes.
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