These Three Cities Are the Worst Places to Drive in the US
For many Americans, navigating city traffic is a daily test of patience, skill, and stress tolerance, and while you may not think of it as a dangerous activity, fatalities from car crashes in the US are tragically high. Around 40,000 people lose their lives each year in a traffic accident, according to estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with some places being worse offenders than others.
While in some cities, driving is a source of aggravation, in others, it's downright risky.
Philedelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, tops many lists in terms of driving chaos. It has the worst congestion out of any city in the US, largely due to its historic street grid with narrow, irregular streets, which make the road network confusing and congested. The 18th-century layout just wasn't built for modern-day traffic volumes.
Drivers in Philadelphia endure some of the slowest average driving speeds in the downtown out of any city, tying with New York City and Chicago at a measly 11 miles per hour, according to a study by Forbes Advisor. These terrible driving conditions are more than a source of frustration; they're also deadly. Philadelphia has the highest number of traffic fatalities per capita in the US.
Boston
Up north in Boston, Massachusetts, drivers face a different set of frustrations. Like Philadelphia, Boston's grid dates back many generations, resulting in a strange labyrinth that was clearly put in place before the introduction of modern cars. Many avenues curve unexpectedly, intersections are confusing, and one-way streets are everywhere. Boston drivers are also notorious for being aggressive, following closely, and making sudden lane changes.
A report by Allstate named Boston the most collision-prone city in the US. According to the stats, Boston drivers had a 244 percent higher likelihood of being involved in a crash than the national average. They get into a collision every three years, whereas the average American gets into one every 10 and a half years.
Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee, adds its own flavor of driving headaches. Instead of having a historic grid to blame, the city is known for its bad drivers, consistently ranking as the American city with the worst drivers.
The city has one of the highest rates of traffic fatalities and the highest number of deadly crashes caused by bad driving behavior. The latest municipal data shows the city reported 113 fatalities related to bad driving, almost four times the national rate. It also has the highest rate of traffic deaths due to drunk driving.
These stats will hopefully start looking a little less tragic soon. The city has pledged to "improve roadway safety by significantly reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries," through its Safety Action Plan. The plan will identify dangerous areas, redesign roads in problem spots, implement clearer signage, and improve lighting and visibility.
Being a bad place to drive doesn't mean it's a bad place to live, but it does mean that every trip comes greater risk. If you're planning to drive in any of these cities, don't forget to buckle up and use a high degree of caution.
