America’s Accident Hotspots Reveal a Crisis in Urban Safety

A new study conducted by Anidjar & Levine has identified the U.S. cities where residents face the highest risk of accidents, from car crashes to cycling fatalities. The findings point to a troubling pattern: infrastructure shortfalls, underfunded public safety measures, and inconsistent enforcement are fueling preventable injuries and deaths across the country.

Vehicle Fatalities: Memphis Tops the List

Between 2019 and 2023, Memphis, Tennessee, recorded 25.96 car-crash deaths per 100,000 residents, the highest rate in the nation. Detroit (21.47) and Albuquerque (18.11) followed closely. Other high-risk cities include Tucson, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Dallas, Atlanta, Tampa, and Louisville.

The study notes that Memphis suffers from poorly designed roads and high volumes of traffic, while Detroit’s “complex traffic flow” increases collision risks. Florida cities face a unique mix of elderly drivers, inexperienced motorists, and heavy tourist traffic, all compounded by sudden weather shifts.

A $105 Billion Funding Gap

Underlying these statistics is a chronic lack of investment. A Pew Charitable Trusts report cited in the study found that state and local governments face a $105 billion shortfall in roadway funding, leaving many cities unable to repair deteriorating infrastructure.

California, Texas, and Florida lead the nation in driving fatalities, with 19,241, 18,728, and 16,000 deaths respectively between 2019 and 2023. Georgia, in fourth place, recorded less than half of Florida’s total, underscoring the outsized risks in the top three states.

Drunk Driving: Texas Cities Dominate

Drunk driving remains a leading cause of fatalities. In 2024, 13,000 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, costing the U.S. an estimated $58 billion. The study found that six of the top ten cities for drunk-driving crashes are in Texas, with Austin (83.19%), San Antonio (82.11%), and El Paso (82.09%) topping the list.

Texas also recorded the highest number of drunk-driving deaths in 2023 (1,162), followed by California (1,069) and Florida (797).

Cyclist Fatalities: Urban Roads as Danger Zones

Cycling deaths rose 4.4% between 2022 and 2024, with 82% of accidents occurring on urban roads. Little Rock, Arkansas, ranked as the deadliest city for cyclists, with 62.4 deaths per 10,000 riders. Jacksonville, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Memphis also ranked high.

Florida again stood out, with 222 cyclist deaths in 2022, far surpassing California (166) and Texas (91).

Children at Risk

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. children and adolescents, accounting for 20% of fatalities. Firearms were the second leading cause at 15%. Knoxville, Orlando, and Tampa/St. Petersburg ranked as the most injury-prone cities for children.

In Knoxville, teen driving deaths doubled between 2022 and 2024. Florida’s child fatalities were linked to weather, swimming accidents, and dangerous driving.

The Rise of E-Scooter Injuries

E-scooters are another growing hazard. Between 2017 and 2022, 190,000 riders required emergency care, while 233 pedestrians were injured in scooter collisions in 2022 alone. Annual injuries rose from 8,566 in 2017 to 56,847 in 2022.

The Most Dangerous States

Using a composite “Danger Score,” the study ranked California (19.32), Texas (12.67), and Florida (11.90) as the most accident-prone states. Vermont, Alaska, Rhode Island, and Wyoming ranked among the safest.