While the number of people working from home increases every year, most Americans are still driving to work. With nearly 300 million cars on the road in the U.S., the daily commute can be dangerous, as a new study reveals which cities have the most hazardous commutes.
The annual study conducted by MoneyGeek looked at what were the “most dangerous” commutes in the country. Researchers looked at the average number of fatal crashes annually during the morning commute hours in more than 100 of the largest cities.
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What cities are the ‘most dangerous’?
At the top of the list was Memphis, with 0.84 deaths per 100,000 residents during the morning rush. Tucson, Arizona, almost tied with Memphis, with a 0.80 fatal crash rate. In the third spot was Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky, with a 0.71, then Greensboro-High Point, North Carolina, is in fourth with a 0.70.
Albuquerque, New Mexico, comes in fifth place with a 0.52 fatal crash rate.
The top ten “most dangerous” commutes in the U.S.:
- Memphis, Tennessee – 0.84
- Tucson, Arizona – 0.80
- Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky – 0.71
- Greensboro-High Point, North Carolina – 0.70
- Albuquerque, New Mexico – 0.52
- Chattanooga, Tennessee – 0.51
- Jacksonville, Florida – 0.50
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana – 0.48
- San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas – 0.44
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina – 0.37
Who were the best commuters?
Researchers also looked at the best commuters. Cities were ranked based on morning crash rates, average commute times, fuel cost and travel time.
At the top spot was Columbia, South Carolina, with a total score of 0.08. Jackson, Mississippi, actually tied with that same score. One outlier in the top spots was Springfield, Missouri, which was in fifth place but had a surprising morning crash rate of 1.21. Compared to the others, which averaged 0.45, it was considerably higher.
The top ten best commuters:
- Columbia, South Carolina – 0.08
- Jackson, Mississippi – 0.08
- Jacksonville, North Carolina – 0.09
- Rochester, Minnesota – 0.09
- Springfield, Missouri – 0.13
- Provo, Utah – 0.14
- Rochester, New York – 0.14
- Buffalo, New York – 0.15
- Boise, Idaho – 0.15
- Grand Rapids, Michigan – 0.15
What else did the study find?
The study also found other interesting things about America’s daily commute. For example, remote work has reduced the average commute in the U.S. by nearly an hour.
Researchers also found that public transit systems are seeing increased demand. The American Public Transportation Association reported ridership has returned to 85% of what it was before the pandemic, despite office occupancy remaining under 60%. Researchers said this indicates how cities with reliable public transit are absorbing more daily commuters.
Public transit is also much more affordable for people. According to the study, switching to public transit can save up to $13,000 annually when fuel, insurance and vehicle maintenance is factored in.
But the benefits go beyond the pocketbook. Researchers said cities with stronger transit systems also see lower traffic fatality rates, reduced emissions and more energy-efficient commuting overall.
