A speeding truck driver who was distracted by TikTok in Phoenix last year caused a crash that killed five people — and will now spend another 22 years of his life in prison.
The catastrophic crash that destroyed the lives of six families is just one of millions of car accidents in the United States that kill thousands of people. Last year, about 41,000 people died in traffic accidents, according to preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Some of the leading causes of accidents include distracted driving, speeding, and drug and alcohol use. In 2022 alone, more than 3,300 people were killed on U.S. roads due to distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Put your phone down or pay,” Sophie Schulman, the department’s deputy director, told USA Today. “Paying could mean a ticket or points on your license, or it could mean paying the ultimate price — a fatal crash that takes your life or the life of someone else on the road.”
Federal fatality data provides insight into which states and major cities are the most dangerous for drivers. Forbes Advisor recently compared the 50 most populous cities in the United States to find the average number of fatal crashes per 100,000 residents over a five-year period.
As millions of Americans travel for the three-day Labor Day holiday, here are the most dangerous cities for drivers and passengers.
What are the most dangerous cities for drivers?
Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the most dangerous cities for drivers, according to a Forbes Advisor analysis that looked at the average fatal crash rate between 2017 and 2021.
In Memphis, 25.96 people per 100,000 residents were killed in fatal car crashes, the highest rate among major cities in the United States. Detroit, Michigan, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, followed with the highest fatal car crash rates per 100,000 residents. Tucson, Arizona, and Kansas City, Missouri, rounded out the top five.
Texas has three of the 15 worst cities for drivers, according to Forbes. These cities include Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston.
Drunk driving, distracted driving, and speeding are common causes of fatal car crashes. In Memphis, the average fatal car crash involving drunk driving was 7.5 per 100,000 residents. Detroit and Dallas followed as the cities with the highest rates of fatal crashes involving drunk driving.
20 Most Dangerous Cities for Drivers
When looking at a 5-year average of car accident fatality data, the following cities have the highest fatality rates per 100,000 people:
Memphis, Tennessee: 25.96 deaths per 100,000 Detroit, Michigan: 21.47 deaths per 100,000 Albuquerque, New Mexico 18.11 deaths per 100,000 Tucson, Arizona 17.02 deaths per 100,000 Kansas City, Missouri 16.85 deaths per 100,000 Jacksonville, Florida 16.23 deaths per 100,000 Dallas, Texas 15.77 deaths per 100,000 Atlanta, Georgia 15.43 deaths per 100,000 Tampa, Florida 15.42 deaths per 100,000 Louisville, Kentucky 14.99 deaths per 100,000 Phoenix, Arizona 14.59 deaths per 100,000 Tulsa, Oklahoma 13.4 people per 100,000 Nashville, Tennessee 13.4 people per 100,000 Miami, Florida 13.21 people per 100,000 Indianapolis, Indiana 13.17 people per 100,000 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 12.46 people per 100,000 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 12.21 people per 100,000 Fort Worth, Texas 11.48 people per 100,000 Houston, Texas 11.36 people per 100,000 Bakersfield, California 10.96 people per 100,000
What's the safest state to drive in?: Here's where the most dangerous drivers are.
Have fatal traffic accidents decreased?
The number of miles driven in 2023 will rise to 67.5 billion, while the number of traffic fatalities will decline by 3.6% from 2022. The total number of deaths from car crashes is also up compared to the previous decade. Safety Administration data shows that between 2013 and 2023, deaths from car crashes increased by about 25%.
Schulman said more than 3,300 people were killed and nearly 290,000 injured in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2022. She said that’s likely an undercount because people may not want to admit to using their phones before a crash, and it can be difficult for law enforcement to determine if they are.
Arizona truck driver distracted by TikTok videos gets more than 20 years in fatal crash
Report: As fatal US traffic crashes decline, distracted drivers advised to 'put phone away or pay up'
