California Cities Dominate List of Riskiest Places for Drivers

Six cities in California have been identified as among the riskiest places to drive in the United States, according to recent data compiled by LendingTree. San Diego ranked second nationally, with 28.2 crashes per 1,000 drivers. Los Angeles and San Francisco tied for third place, each recording 26.9 crashes per 1,000 drivers.

Other California cities appearing in the top 10 include Sacramento in sixth place with 25.6 crashes per 1,000 drivers, Long Beach at 22.7, and San Jose at 22.3. Raleigh, North Carolina, was the only city outside California to rank higher than San Diego, with 29.1 crashes per 1,000 drivers. The national average for crashes per 1,000 drivers during the study period was 17.9.

The rankings are based on insurance quote data collected by QuoteWizard between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026, across the 50 largest U.S. cities.

LendingTree's auto insurance expert, Lindsay Bishop, suggested that a combination of factors likely contributes to these high crash rates. "Generally, the more time drivers spend on the road and the more traffic congestion, the more opportunities there are for accidents," Bishop stated. She noted that California's dense freeways, complex merges, frequent lane changes, and busy intersections create a particularly hazardous driving environment.

The data measures the frequency of crashes relative to the number of drivers, not the individual likelihood of a single motorist being involved in an accident. However, the figures highlight the prevalence of collisions in heavily populated urban areas.

Younger drivers, particularly those between 18 and 28 years old, exhibited the highest crash rates, averaging 33.1 crashes per 1,000 drivers. This rate is more than double that of millennials (14.8 per 1,000) and Generation X (14.9 per 1,000). Baby boomers had a rate of 18 crashes per 1,000 drivers.

Bishop attributed the higher rates among younger drivers to a lack of experience and a greater propensity for risky behaviors, such as speeding. These factors can impact insurance premiums, as insurers consider accident history when setting rates.

The analysis also examined crash rates by vehicle make. Drivers of Ram trucks had the highest crash rate among 30 examined makes, at 25.9 per 1,000 drivers, followed by Tesla at 25 and Subaru at 23.4. Conversely, Pontiac drivers had the lowest rate at 9 per 1,000, followed by Chrysler at 11.4 and Cadillac at 12.1. Bishop cautioned, however, that vehicle brand alone does not determine driver behavior, and factors like age, experience, environment, and time spent driving also play significant roles, alongside vehicle safety features.

In contrast to crash frequency, data on fatal crashes revealed a different pattern. Memphis, Tennessee, reported the highest fatal crash rate among the 50 largest cities in 2024, with 27.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, more than double the national rate of 10.7. Tucson, Arizona, followed with 24 fatal deaths per 100,000 residents, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, had 19.1.

Phoenix recorded the highest raw number of fatal crashes, with 267 incidents, resulting in a rate of 16 per 100,000 residents. Several cities saw significant increases in fatal crashes between 2019 and 2024, including Washington D.C. (up 109.1%), Tucson (up 70.5%), and Las Vegas (up 66.7%). Conversely, Atlanta saw a 32.1% decrease, and San Jose experienced a 31.2% decline.

Bishop advised drivers to mitigate risks by avoiding peak rush hours and late-night travel when possible, maintaining safe speeds, keeping ample distance from other vehicles, and remaining attentive. She also noted that usage-based insurance programs, which monitor driving habits, can offer discounts for safer motorists.