Work Truck Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

America's Safest Places to Drive Named

A North Carolina city has been named the best city for driving, while a California suburb tops a list of the safest place to drive in a new report from WalletHub.

July 12, 2018
America's Safest Places to Drive Named

America's safest and worst cities for driving have been identified in a new survey.

Photo courtesy of Kennymatic/Wikimedia.

2 min to read


Raleigh, N.C., ranks first among best cities for driving while Irvine, Calif., takes the top spot for safest place to drive, according to a new report from WalletHub that explores the most driver-friendly cities in the U.S.

Other cities that made the top five list for best places to drive include Corpus Christi, Texas; Orlando, Florida; Greensboro, N.C.; and Plano, Texas.

Ad Loading...

The three worst cities for driving include Oakland, San Francisco, and Detroit, according to the report.

WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities across 29 key metrics including average gas prices, annual hours in traffic congestion, and accident likelihood.

While Irvine captured the top spot for overall driving safety, Madison, Wis. came in fifth in overall safety. The city can boast the lowest accident likelihood than any other city compared with the national average.

Boise, Idaho; Laredo, Texas; Wichita, Kansas; and Mesa, Arizona also scored among the top five when it comes to fewest accidents.

Conversely, the five cities that experience the highest accident likelihood include Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Boston.

Ad Loading...

Traffic congestion is another issue that can impact on safe driving, which can lead to anything from fender benders to road rage.

Motorists seeking to avoid congestion should head to Greensboro, Wichita, and Corpus Cristi, which ranked as the top three least-congested places to drive.

In fact, Greensboro residents spend the fewest annual hours in traffic congestion per auto commuter (four), which is 25.5 times fewer than in Los Angeles, the city where residents spend the most at 102.

Additional cities that have the highest annual hours spent in congestion per auto commuter include: Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Atlanta. 

In terms of overall safety in driving, St. Louis took last place.

Ad Loading...

The report also explores car theft data. Gilbert, Arizona, has the fewest car thefts per 1,000 residents, 0.49, which is 33.1 times fewer than in Oakland — the city with the most at 16.23.

Read the full report here.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

More Safety

Graphic featuring fireworks on a blue background with the headline "Stay Safe on the Road This July 4th" and the subheading "Tips From a Former Truck Driver." The image promotes road safety during holiday travel and accompanies advice on avoiding truck blind spots, passing safely, leaving adequate space around trucks, and planning travel during busy traffic periods.
Safetyby StaffJune 18, 2026

5 Safe Driving Tips for 4th of July

To ensure that this year’s fireworks remain in the sky and not on the roadway, follow these five easy steps to remain safe on the road this year – shared directly from a truck driver.

Read More →
Graphic for NSC National Safety Month featuring warehouse, trucking, and transportation workers. Text highlights safety priorities including moving safety forward, road safety, worker health, and preventing slips, trips, and falls.
Safetyby StaffJune 16, 2026

NSC Marks 30 Years of National Safety Month, Includes Road Safety Focus

The Staying Safe on the Roads topic is one of four weekly focuses in June as the National Safety Council observes the 30th anniversary of National Safety Month. NSC also provides insights on the need for fleets to create a safety policy.

Read More →
Person using a laptop to view a fleet management dashboard displaying weather alerts, vehicle speed data, maps, and road-condition images. The screen highlights a snowy roadway and a lake-effect snow warning for a fleet vehicle.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseJune 12, 2026

Fleetworthy Integrates Lytx Video Snapshots to Improve Driver Coaching

Fleetworthy’s integration of Lytx video snapshots enables fleet managers to combine visual event evidence with Safety+ risk data, helping them make faster, more informed coaching decisions without leaving the Fleetworthy platform.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic showing the word “RECALL” painted in large yellow letters across a road surface with double yellow center lines. “June” appears at top left, and the Work Truck logo appears at bottom right.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamJune 10, 2026

Recalls You Need to Know About in June 2026

In June 2026, what recalls might impact your fleet? Work Truck has the answers in this comprehensive overview of recent NHTSA recalls.

Read More →
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. Safety Professional of the Year award logo, featuring the company name, stylized “K” emblem, and bold “SPOTY” acronym above the title “Safety Professional of the Year.”
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseJune 8, 2026

J. J. Keller Safety Professional of the Year Awards Nominations Now Open

J. J. Keller & Associates is accepting nominations for the 2026 J. J. Keller Safety Professional of the Year (SPOTY) Awards. Winners will receive prize packages valued at up to $47,200.

Read More →
A wide promotional graphic announcing changes to Automotive Service Professionals Month. The ASE Automotive Service Professionals Month logo appears above text announcing that beginning in 2026-2027, Automotive Service Professionals Month will move to April and October to align with Spring and Fall Car Care Months.
Safetyby Lauren FletcherJune 2, 2026

ASE Aligns Automotive Service Professionals Month With Spring and Fall Vehicle Maintenance Campaigns

ASE will move Automotive Service Professionals Month to April and October beginning in 2026-2027, aligning recognition with Car Care Month events.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
wheel geotab image
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter

Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.

Read More →
Presenter onstage at Motive Vision 26 conference beside a large smartphone display showing a driver rewards app, highlighting a first-place achievement in a Q1 Excellence Program with points, rankings, and Google Pay integration.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamMay 29, 2026

Driver Retention: Motive Automates Driver Coaching & Driver Rewards

New automated rewards and recognition capabilities from Motive can help organizations engage drivers, reinforce positive behavior, and reduce turnover. AI Coach has also been updated to deliver personalized feedback across safety, fuel, and compliance.

Read More →
Graphic for Work Truck’s 2026 Wildfire Outlook featuring bold white text over an active forest wildfire scene, with flames spreading across wooded terrain against a red-orange sky.
Disaster Responseby Wayne ParhamMay 27, 2026

Experts Forecast Broader Impact of Wildfires in 2026

This year’s wildfire season will likely be more intense than in 2025. The 2026 wildfire forecast from AccuWeather is for fewer fires, but even more acreage will be impacted this year.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic featuring a speech bubble with the text “DataQs?” centered between two white semi-trucks on a textured brown background, with the Work Truck logo in the upper left corner.
Safetyby Kathy CloseMay 26, 2026

A Walkthrough of the DataQs Process

Bad data on your carrier record can cost you. Here’s how DataQs helps fleets challenge errors before they hit CSA scores, insurance, and your bottom line.

Read More →