Study: Tampa makes top 10 for worst drivers in the country

TAMPA, Fla. – Drivers might want to buckle up and proceed with caution around Tampa after the city was named one of the worst places to drive in the country.

In a study conducted by Forbes, Tampa placed 10th in driving etiquette with a score of 77.13 out of 100. The analysis found the city having the eighth highest total of fatal car accidents at 14.47 per 100,000 city residents and ninth highest number of people killed in crashes at 15.42 per 100,000.

To determine its rankings, Forbes compared the 50 most populated U.S. cities across five key metrics, including fatal accidents and crashes due to drunk driving and speeding.

Tampa also earned the dubious distinction of having the 14th most car accidents involving a distracted driver with 0.75 per 100,000 residents. It also was the only Florida city in the top 10, with Jacksonville next up in 14th place.

According to the survey, Albuquerque, New Mexico is ground zero for bad driving. The city scored 100 out of 100 by placing first for the highest number of fatal car accidents involving a distracted driver in the nation at 5.42 per 100,00 city residents.

The city also ranked third for highest number of fatal car accidents and number of people killed in fatal crashes. Moreover, Albuquerque placed fifth for fatal car accidents involving speeding and sixth for fatal car crashes involving a drunk driver.

Albuquerque was followed by Memphis, Tennessee; Detroit, Michigan; Tucson, Arizona; and Kansas City, Missouri for dangerous driving. Memphis, in particular, has the most fatal car accidents at 24.18 per 100,000 city residents and the highest number of fatal car accidents involving a drunk driver at 7.5 per 100,000.

Notably, Detroit ranked second in fatal car accidents, drunk driving, speeding, and people killed in fatal crashes.

Texas had two cities in the top 10 and five in the top 25. Dallas ranked highest in sixth placed with Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston and Austin all making the mark.

For drivers looking to stay in one piece, California is listed as the best place for safe driving. Three of its cities, San Francisco, Oakland and San Diego all made the top 10.