Six California Cities Rank Among The Ten Riskiest Places To Drive In America
Six Golden State cities rank among the 10 riskiest places to drive in America, according to data from LendingTree. San Diego placed second nationwide with 28.2 crashes per 1,000 drivers. Los Angeles and San Francisco tied for third at 26.9. Sacramento followed in sixth place at 25.6 crashes per 1,000 drivers. Long Beach recorded 22.7, and San Jose registered 22.3.
The rankings rely on QuoteWizard insurance quote data gathered across the 50 largest US cities between Aug. 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026. Only Raleigh, North Carolina, ranked worse than San Diego, recording 29.1 crashes per 1,000 drivers. The national average sits at 17.9 crashes per 1,000 drivers.
Congestion And Traffic Volume Drive Up Collision Rates Across California Freeways
LendingTree auto insurance expert Lindsay Bishop said a mix of congestion, road conditions, driving habits, and time spent behind the wheel explains the figures.
California’s crowded freeways, tricky merges, constant lane changes, and packed intersections create a hazardous mix. “Every additional interaction creates another opportunity for an accident,” Bishop said. The figures measure crashes per 1,000 drivers rather than the odds that any individual motorist will be involved in a wreck.
Young Drivers And Vehicle Brand Statistics Reveal Steep Risk Disparities
Young drivers stand out as a major risk group in the data. Motorists ages 18 to 28 recorded 33.1 crashes per 1,000 drivers. That figure is more than double the rates for millennials at 14.8 and Generation X at 14.9. Baby boomers recorded a rate of 18.
Bishop pointed to younger drivers’ lack of experience and a greater tendency toward risky behavior, including speeding. Insurers use accident risk and claims history to help set premiums.
The analysis also identified differences by vehicle brand among 30 makes examined. Ram drivers recorded the highest crash rate at 25.9 per 1,000 drivers, followed by Tesla at 25 and Subaru at 23.4. Pontiac drivers recorded the lowest rate at 9, followed by Chrysler at 11.4 and Cadillac at 12.1. Bishop cautioned that the figures do not prove certain brands make people worse drivers, noting that age, experience, driving environments, and vehicle safety features influence the results.
Frequently Asked Questions About The National Driving Risk Rankings
How were the insurance quote figures collected for the 2026 rankings?
The data comes from QuoteWizard insurance quote statistics gathered between Aug. 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026, across the 50 largest US cities.
What specific vehicle brands recorded the lowest crash rates in the study?
Pontiac drivers recorded the lowest crash rate among 30 examined makes at 9 per 1,000 drivers, followed by Chrysler at 11.4 and Cadillac at 12.1.
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