Atlanta, long chastised for its less-than-stellar driving conditions and hastened freeway antics, finds itself a notch down on the notorious list of cities with the worst drivers. According to Fox5Atlanta, a new study from Forbes Advisor has placed Atlanta at No. 16 among U.S. cities, despite the continuous complaints from locals caught in its often treacherous traffic.
The study, which eyed the 50 biggest cities, assessed a slew of factors ranging from total to drunk driving fatalities. Atlanta boasts a fatal crash rate of just over 15 per 100,000 inhabitants. Though its reputation on the streets is one of mayhem, the data suggests that there are 15 other urban sprawls with more dire driving conditions. Motorists in Atlanta must navigate not just traffic but an array of obstacles from roaming wildlife to unchecked potholes.
Forbes' revelation is surprising, considering the daily grind Atlantans face behind the wheel—a grind that sometimes feels like an unending race, as 11Alive notes. Jostling for space on the heavily frequented I-285 and I-75/I-85 junctions has become second nature to local drivers, who have seemingly turned indicator signals into a vestigial part of their cars' anatomy.
Yet, Atlanta's overall driving score, tallied at 70.47 out of 100 by Forbes, is overshadowed by cities like Albuquerque and Memphis, which lead the list as first and second, respectively. Memphis registers the highest number of fatal accidents involving drunk drivers—a statistic that adds an extra layer of caution to the Memphis motorways. Meanwhile, Atlanta drivers find a silver lining in their ranking, with the city's figures for drunk driving and speeding-related fatalities staying out of the nation's top 15
Despite Atlanta's mid-tier ranking, urban driving in the Peach State capital continues to demand unwavering attention and care. This latest report from Forbes Advisor doesn't provide a free pass but rather a momentary sigh of relief, amidst the growing concern over a near 10% increase in deadly crashes nationwide over the last two years, as pointed by Fox5Atlanta.
