California drivers are facing a sobering warning: six cities in the Golden State rank among the 10 most dangerous places to drive in the United States.
San Diego ranked second nationwide, averaging 28.2 crashes per 1,000 drivers. Los Angeles and San Francisco tied for third, each recording 26.9 crashes, according to newly released data from financial comparison website LendingTree.
Sacramento placed sixth with 25.6 crashes per 1,000 drivers. Long Beach followed with 22.7, while San Jose posted 22.3, giving California six cities in the national top 10.
Raleigh, North Carolina, was the only city with a higher rate, at 29.1 crashes per 1,000 drivers. The average across the nation was 17.9.
The rankings draw on QuoteWizard insurance quote data gathered from Aug. 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026, covering the 50 largest cities in the United States.
Lindsay Bishop, an auto insurance expert at LendingTree, said the results may reflect a combination of heavy congestion, road conditions, driving behavior and the amount of time motorists spend behind the wheel.
“The more time people spend driving—and the more traffic they encounter—the more chances there are for a crash,” Bishop said.
California’s crowded freeways, complicated merges, frequent lane changes and busy intersections create an especially challenging driving environment, she added.
“Each additional interaction on the road creates another opportunity for an accident,” Bishop said.
The study tracks crashes per 1,000 drivers rather than the individual odds of being involved in a collision. Even so, the numbers highlight how common crashes are in some of America’s most heavily traveled metropolitan areas.
KEEP READING: Maureen Callahan: Exhausted Prince Harry Must Admit It’s All Over
Younger motorists emerged as another significant risk category. Drivers between 18 and 28 recorded 33.1 crashes per 1,000 drivers—more than twice the rates for millennials, at 14.8, and Generation X, at 14.9. Baby boomers recorded a rate of 18.
Bishop attributed the higher rate among younger drivers partly to limited experience and a greater likelihood of risky habits such as speeding.
Those crashes can also come with a financial penalty, since insurers consider accident risk and claims history when calculating auto insurance premiums.
Crash rates also varied sharply by vehicle brand. Among the 30 makes reviewed, Ram drivers had the highest rate, at 25.9 crashes per 1,000 drivers. Tesla followed at 25, with Subaru at 23.4. Pontiac drivers had the lowest rate, at 9, followed by Chrysler at 11.4 and Cadillac at 12.1.
Bishop cautioned that the data does not establish that drivers of particular brands are more dangerous. Age, experience, road conditions and time spent driving can affect the figures, while vehicle safety technology may also influence crash outcomes.
Fatal collision data painted a different picture.
Memphis, Tennessee, recorded the highest fatal-crash rate among the nation’s 50 largest cities in 2024, with 27.7 deaths per 100,000 residents. That was more than 2.5 times the national rate of 10.7. Tucson, Arizona, ranked next at 24, followed by Albuquerque, New Mexico, at 19.1.
Phoenix had the highest total number of fatal crashes, with 267 deaths and a rate of 16 fatalities per 100,000 residents.
Washington, D.C., recorded a 109.1% increase in fatal crashes between 2019 and 2024. Tucson’s rate climbed 70.5%, while Las Vegas saw a 66.7% increase. Atlanta moved in the opposite direction, reporting a 32.1% decline. San Jose recorded a 31.2% drop.
Bishop said speed often determines whether a collision remains survivable or becomes fatal. Dangerous intersections, roadway design and delays in emergency response can also shape the severity of a crash.
Her advice for drivers: avoid rush-hour gridlock and late-night trips when possible, slow down, leave plenty of space and stay alert. Usage-based insurance programs that track driving habits may also offer discounts to safer motorists.
