The U.S. cities with the worst drivers in 2024

Car crashes that result in fatalities and pedestrian deaths have been on the rise the last couple of years, with no indication of a slowdown. Forbes Advisor sifted through NHTSA and U.S. Census Bureau data on the 50 most populous cities in the country to find out which have the worst drivers — the ones contributing more than their share to the nationwide stats. The equation took five metrics into account and weighted them, all based on the number and kinds of fatal accidents per 100,000 residents: The overall number (per 100,000) (24%); how many involved drunk drivers (0.08 BAC or above) (19%); how many involved distracted drivers (19%); how many involved speeding (19%); and how many people were killed (19%).

The 10 cities with worst drivers:

1. Albuquerque

2. Memphis

3. Detroit

4. Tucson

5. Kansas City, Missouri

6. Dallas

7. Louisville

8. Phoenix

9. Fort Worth

10. Tampa

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool is considered weak on distracted-driving reporting, lacking rigorous controls for reporting and a definition. Even so, Albuquerque took the award for the highest number of fatal accidents that involve people focused on something other than driving. Beyond that, it didn't score higher than third in any other category, taking bronze for the overall number of fatal accidents and the number of people killed.