Columbus ranks among top 10 safest cities to drive in the country, study finds

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus is among the top 10 safest cities to drive in the United States, a recent study found.

In honor of Distracted Driving Awareness month, U.S. News and World Report conducted a study to find out which American cities are the safest for drivers. 

The company analyzed five factors for the nation's 50 most populated cities, including the average number of fatal car accidents, DUI arrests and vehicle thefts, as well as the average number of people involved in fatal accidents and the fatality rate per 100 million miles traveled.

The study used data from entities such as the National Highway Traffic Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation, sourced from 2017 to 2022.

In the list of the safest cities to drive, Columbus ranked at No. 8. Columbus had the second lowest average for DUI arrests and ranked ninth when it came to the lowest average fatality rate, according to a spokesperson with the media company.

“While improving your driving habits can help, several other things can make a city safer for driving, from well-designed roads that limit speeding to more accessible public transportation,” the report stated. “In addition to the safety benefit, residents living in areas with fewer accidents may have lower car insurance rates because they’re at a decreased risk of filing a claim.”

Coming in first place was Boston, which was followed by New York; Washington; Minneapolis; Chicago; Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Seattle. Following Columbus were San Francisco and Baltimore.

The top 10 least safe cities to drive according to the study are Memphis, Tennessee; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Tucson, Arizona; Detroit; Louisville, Kentucky; Phoenix; Kansas City, Missouri; Dallas; Atlanta; and Nashville, Tennessee.