Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of NHTSA data, the most dangerous city to drive in among ranked US cities is Decatur, GA with 71.3 traffic deaths per 100,000 residents per year (Road Danger Score 100/100), vs a US average of 12.3.
Highest Traffic-Fatality Rates
Cities ranked by Road Danger Score — 5-year traffic deaths per 100,000 residents from NHTSA FARS.
| # | City | Danger Score | Deaths per 100K/yr | Deaths (5-Yr) | Alcohol % | Speeding % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur, GA | 100/100 | 71.3 | 86 | 14% | 10% |
| 2 | Hempstead Village, NY | 100/100 | 61.0 | 177 | 19% | 36% |
| 3 | Harvey, IL | 100/100 | 55.4 | 53 | 12% | 28% |
| 4 | Wasilla, AK | 100/100 | 54.7 | 28 | 56% | 48% |
| 5 | Covington, GA | 100/100 | 51.3 | 38 | 12% | 15% |
| 6 | Panama City Beach, FL | 100/100 | 50.4 | 32 | 10% | 3% |
| 7 | Cedartown, GA | 100/100 | 48.4 | 25 | 17% | 25% |
| 8 | Brunswick, GA | 100/100 | 43.7 | 32 | 19% | 29% |
| 9 | Bridgeton, MO | 100/100 | 42.8 | 24 | 27% | 55% |
| 10 | Conyers, GA | 100/100 | 41.4 | 42 | 8% | 18% |
| 11 | Tarrytown Village, NY | 100/100 | 41.2 | 24 | 17% | 13% |
| 12 | Cartersville, GA | 99/100 | 40.7 | 52 | 17% | 17% |
| 13 | Show Low, AZ | 99/100 | 40.5 | 25 | 11% | 42% |
| 14 | Orange, TX | 99/100 | 38.8 | 37 | 0% | 18% |
| 15 | Moultrie, GA | 99/100 | 38.5 | 28 | 23% | 12% |
| 16 | Riverdale, GA | 99/100 | 38.1 | 30 | 0% | 23% |
| 17 | Somerset, KY | 99/100 | 37.2 | 23 | 9% | 9% |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | 99/100 | 36.5 | 1,120 | 24% | 19% |
| 19 | Clinton, TN | 99/100 | 36.4 | 19 | 15% | 15% |
| 20 | Alachua, FL | 99/100 | 35.7 | 18 | 13% | 6% |
| 21 | Brooksville, FL | 99/100 | 35.7 | 18 | 17% | 11% |
| 22 | Shively, KY | 99/100 | 35.1 | 27 | 25% | 25% |
| 23 | Martinsburg, WV | 99/100 | 34.7 | 33 | 23% | 29% |
| 24 | Douglas, GA | 99/100 | 33.9 | 20 | 18% | 41% |
| 25 | Flint, MI | 99/100 | 33.3 | 132 | 29% | 29% |
| 26 | Lake Wales, FL | 99/100 | 33.3 | 28 | 15% | 11% |
| 27 | Palatka, FL | 99/100 | 33.3 | 18 | 18% | 0% |
| 28 | Doraville, GA | 99/100 | 33.2 | 18 | 13% | 20% |
| 29 | Cocoa, FL | 99/100 | 32.6 | 33 | 9% | 19% |
| 30 | Tukwila, WA | 99/100 | 32.5 | 34 | 39% | 39% |
| 31 | Waycross, GA | 99/100 | 32.2 | 22 | 35% | 30% |
| 32 | Barstow, CA | 99/100 | 32.2 | 40 | 13% | 32% |
| 33 | Payson, AZ | 99/100 | 32.1 | 27 | 38% | 54% |
| 34 | Norcross, GA | 98/100 | 31.8 | 29 | 16% | 24% |
| 35 | Dallas, GA | 98/100 | 31.4 | 24 | 14% | 32% |
| 36 | Goodlettsville, TN | 98/100 | 31.2 | 27 | 21% | 8% |
| 37 | Vidor, TX | 98/100 | 31.2 | 16 | 7% | 13% |
| 38 | Crossville, TN | 98/100 | 31.1 | 20 | 17% | 11% |
| 39 | St. Augustine, FL | 98/100 | 31.1 | 24 | 19% | 10% |
| 40 | Canandaigua, NY | 98/100 | 30.6 | 16 | 25% | 25% |
| 41 | Lumberton, NC | 98/100 | 30.4 | 29 | 21% | 38% |
| 42 | Shepherdsville, KY | 98/100 | 29.6 | 22 | 25% | 15% |
| 43 | Los Lunas, NM | 98/100 | 29.4 | 29 | 21% | 43% |
| 44 | Cordele, GA | 98/100 | 29.3 | 15 | 29% | 21% |
| 45 | Bessemer, AL | 98/100 | 29.1 | 36 | 11% | 6% |
| 46 | Marietta, GA | 98/100 | 29.0 | 92 | 20% | 16% |
| 47 | Morgantown, WV | 98/100 | 28.8 | 44 | 31% | 21% |
| 48 | Lockport, NY | 98/100 | 28.7 | 29 | 4% | 29% |
| 49 | Milledgeville, GA | 98/100 | 28.2 | 23 | 9% | 22% |
| 50 | Kingman, AZ | 98/100 | 28.2 | 51 | 16% | 40% |
| 51 | Daytona Beach, FL | 98/100 | 28.0 | 108 | 11% | 11% |
| 52 | Rome, GA | 98/100 | 27.7 | 53 | 14% | 24% |
| 53 | Lawrenceville, GA | 98/100 | 27.6 | 43 | 13% | 18% |
| 54 | Guthrie, OK | 98/100 | 27.6 | 16 | 29% | 36% |
| 55 | Deming, NM | 98/100 | 27.1 | 19 | 29% | 24% |
| 56 | New Smyrna Beach, FL | 97/100 | 27.0 | 43 | 12% | 10% |
| 57 | Gallup, NM | 97/100 | 27.0 | 27 | 24% | 16% |
| 58 | Ferguson, MO | 97/100 | 26.9 | 24 | 27% | 41% |
| 59 | Kalamazoo Township, MI | 97/100 | 26.3 | 32 | 38% | 34% |
| 60 | Bellmead, TX | 97/100 | 26.3 | 14 | 14% | 50% |
| 61 | Hardeeville, SC | 97/100 | 26.2 | 18 | 19% | 13% |
| 62 | Granbury, TX | 97/100 | 25.8 | 17 | 6% | 29% |
| 63 | Panama City, FL | 97/100 | 25.7 | 47 | 17% | 7% |
| 64 | Jackson, MS | 97/100 | 25.6 | 209 | 14% | 24% |
| 65 | Clearlake, CA | 97/100 | 25.6 | 21 | 10% | 33% |
| 66 | Griffin, GA | 97/100 | 25.6 | 31 | 13% | 26% |
| 67 | Orange City, FL | 97/100 | 25.5 | 19 | 11% | 5% |
| 68 | Eloy, AZ | 97/100 | 25.5 | 25 | 14% | 55% |
| 69 | West Memphis, AR | 97/100 | 25.4 | 30 | 28% | 10% |
| 70 | Baton Rouge, LA | 97/100 | 25.4 | 278 | 27% | 18% |
| 71 | Romulus, MI | 97/100 | 25.2 | 31 | 22% | 30% |
| 72 | Sedona, AZ | 97/100 | 25.1 | 13 | 0% | 33% |
| 73 | Hammond, LA | 97/100 | 24.9 | 26 | 35% | 15% |
| 74 | Cahokia, IL | 97/100 | 24.7 | 17 | 13% | 38% |
| 75 | Tucson, AZ | 97/100 | 24.6 | 675 | 24% | 31% |
| 76 | Vernal, UT | 97/100 | 24.3 | 13 | 42% | 42% |
| 77 | Florida City, FL | 97/100 | 24.1 | 15 | 0% | 7% |
| 78 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 96/100 | 24.1 | 222 | 9% | 8% |
| 79 | Safford, AZ | 96/100 | 23.9 | 12 | 0% | 18% |
| 80 | Calhoun, GA | 96/100 | 23.9 | 21 | 19% | 24% |
| 81 | St. Louis City, MO | 96/100 | 23.9 | 331 | 28% | 38% |
| 82 | Fairburn, GA | 96/100 | 23.8 | 20 | 11% | 26% |
| 83 | Coolidge, AZ | 96/100 | 23.7 | 24 | 26% | 39% |
| 84 | Knoxville, TN | 96/100 | 23.5 | 236 | 21% | 19% |
| 85 | Birmingham, AL | 96/100 | 23.5 | 230 | 11% | 19% |
| 86 | Monroe, LA | 96/100 | 23.3 | 54 | 37% | 19% |
| 87 | Morristown, TN | 96/100 | 23.3 | 38 | 19% | 14% |
| 88 | Plant City, FL | 96/100 | 23.2 | 46 | 13% | 7% |
| 89 | Rockport, TX | 96/100 | 23.2 | 13 | 55% | 27% |
| 90 | Riverside, OH | 96/100 | 23.0 | 28 | 30% | 9% |
| 91 | Stuart, FL | 96/100 | 22.9 | 23 | 15% | 20% |
| 92 | Lighthouse Point, FL | 96/100 | 22.8 | 12 | 9% | 9% |
| 93 | Fort Myers, FL | 96/100 | 22.8 | 103 | 7% | 16% |
| 94 | Greeneville, TN | 96/100 | 22.7 | 18 | 0% | 13% |
| 95 | Galveston, TX | 96/100 | 22.6 | 60 | 26% | 40% |
| 96 | Ocala, FL | 96/100 | 22.3 | 78 | 11% | 8% |
| 97 | Buda, TX | 96/100 | 22.1 | 18 | 6% | 31% |
| 98 | Riverdale, IL | 96/100 | 22.0 | 11 | 20% | 50% |
| 99 | Myrtle Beach, SC | 95/100 | 21.9 | 45 | 24% | 29% |
| 100 | Picayune, MS | 95/100 | 21.9 | 13 | 0% | 8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most dangerous city to drive in?
Decatur, GA has the highest traffic-fatality rate among ranked US cities: 71.3 deaths per 100,000 residents per year (most recent five-year period, NHTSA FARS), a Road Danger Score of 100/100.
What causes traffic deaths in these cities?
Across these 100 cities, an average of 18% of fatal crashes involved a drinking driver and 23% involved speeding (NHTSA FARS, most recent five-year period). These shares run higher than the safest-city list, alongside structural factors like road type and speed limits.
How is the Road Danger Score calculated?
The Road Danger Score is a percentile ranking from 1 to 100 based on each city's five-year traffic-fatality rate (deaths per 100,000 residents per year) from NHTSA FARS data: 100 = most dangerous to drive in, 1 = safest. See the methodology page for the full formula.