subject: Accident-prone Cities: Why Drivers Are So Bad [print this page] What makes a bad driver? Inattentiveness is a huge factor in collisions, particularly in cities where traffic is heavy. On highways that carry multistate commuters, accidents happen more frequently. The most accident-prone cities may have plenty of great drivers, but they clearly have an excessive amount of bad.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Washington, D.C. is the most accident-prone city in America. It has an estimated population of 600,000. The average time between accidents is just 4.8 years, double that of other drivers. The highway surrounding D.C., the Beltway, is a nightmare commute for drivers. No wonder D.C. residents have the highest insurance rates in the nation. On average, they pay $2,146 per year to carry liability insurance coverage per car.
Not far behind Washington, D.C. sits the neighboring city of Baltimore, Md. Baltimore has an estimated population of 638,000 residents, with an 88.7% higher risk of having an auto accident than other drivers in the U.S. With so many drivers in and around the Baltimore metro area, inattentiveness and speed contribute greatly to the high accident rates in the city. Not to mention, many travelers around Baltimore include commuters going to and from D.C., making these two, combined, one of the most dangerous locations to drive in the entire United States.
While this city is within Los Angeles County, Glendale, Calif. makes the list of most accident-prone. Glendale has a population of 196,900. Residents here almost exclusively get around by car. They are 80% more likely than most to be involved in an accident and Glendale drivers average an accident every 5.5 years.
Newark, N.J. makes the most accident-prone list in part due to its access to New York City, as well as turnpike traffic. The citys population of 278,000 averages 5.9 years between accidents and are 71% more likely to be involved in a wreck than most drivers are.
The inclusion of Providence, R.I. may seem surprising, but this city of 172,000 people averages just 6 years between accidents, making Providence drivers 67% more likely to have an accident than other American drivers.
Finally, Philadelphia, Pa., with its population of 1.5 million, makes the list, averaging 6.2 years between collisions. These drivers have a 60% greater chance of an auto accident than most drivers do. Perhaps a major factor in Philadelphias accident rate is the poor status of its roads. Its bridges are in very poor shape, as well.
While there are bad drivers everywhere, the convergence in these cities of workers flooding roadways contributes greatly to the accident rate. Drivers may not understand English and perhaps dont understand road signs. People trying to get somewhere on time while sipping coffee carelessly merge into traffic and misjudge the clearance. Talking on a cell phone, putting on makeup, and sending out text messages while driving all create a perfect storm of risk. These cities just bear the burden of bad driving.
