Drivers carry a risk in every state, but some cities are more dangerous than others. Several institutions have analyzed the data between the top one or two hundred cities in the United States, and Baltimore ranks on all of them. A 2016 NerdWallet examination found that Baltimore, Maryland ranked third in the top five most dangerous cities for auto accidents, which increases the average rate of auto insurance and also your risk of being involved in a fatal car crash.
What Makes Baltimore a Dangerous City for Drivers?
Baltimore residents are more likely to be involved in an auto accident multiple times within 4.7 years, and the fatality rate for these incidents is around five deaths per 100,000 people. If you live in Baltimore, you pay up to 113.9% for auto insurance when you compare your premium to safer areas of the United States.
Several metrics make Baltimore one of the most likely cities for car accidents compared to others, and the 2016 study factored in these stats along with others to determine which cities were the safest and which were the most deadly for drivers and pedestrians:
- Driver statistics from approximately 200 of the most populated U.S. cities.
- The average number of car accidents per 100,000 residents.
- The average number of fatal auto accidents.
- Vehicle-related crime such as stolen cars and vandalism.
- The price of auto insurance policies.
- The number of years between car crashes.
NerdWallet discovered that drivers located on the East Coast or Southwest Coast have the highest rate of auto accidents. Arizona is home to three of the safest cities for motor vehicles. Less populated areas with 208,944 or fewer people were safer than those with a population closer to 500,000.
Detroit, Michigan came in at the top of the list for the riskiest city to get behind the wheel while Cary, North Carolina was the safest. Because of this, Detroit residents pay up to 642 percent more than those who live in Cary for adequate car insurance. Overall, living in a dangerous city will cost you an average of 47 percent more for auto insurance.
Tips for Better Driving in Baltimore, Maryland
Your typical commuter spends 290 hours on the road each year, paying about $1,700 in insurance premiums. Despite rising options for public transit, 87 percent of those on the road are personal cars. It’s difficult to reduce your risk of being involved in an auto accident when so many vehicles are clogging up Baltimore highways, bridges, and roads. However, there are a few ways you can improve your driving and avoid a wreck, such as:
- Avoid Speeding: Several studies have analyzed the fatality rate involved in specific speed limits. A 2016 study on the relationship of traffic fatality rates to maximum state speed limits found that just increasing your speed by five miles per hour correlates with an eight percent increase in fatality risk on freeways and interstates.
- Eliminate Distractions: According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 27 percent of auto accidents in 2015 involved cellphone use.
- Watch Your Blind Spots: The NHTSA also found that an average of 840,000 auto accidents in the U.S. is caused by blind spots annually.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in the Baltimore area, please contact our Maryland attorney today at (410) 995-1515for a free case evaluation. The Portner & Shure, P.A. serves clients in Baltimore, Maryland and surrounding areas.
