Memphis Retains Worst Driver Rankings as Knoxville Jumps to Second—While Murfreesboro ranked as safest in Tennessee
For the third straight year, Memphis has earned the dubious distinction of having America’s worst drivers, according to ConsumerAffairs’ latest analysis. The customer review and news service examined crash data from the U.S. Department of Transportation to compile its 2025 rankings, revealing troubling trends across Tennessee cities.
The findings come as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 39,345 traffic fatalities nationwide in 2024—the first time since 2020 that deaths dropped below 40,000, offering a rare glimmer of hope amid otherwise concerning statistics.
Tennessee’s Mixed Driving Record
Tennessee presents a complex picture when it comes to road safety. While not the nation’s worst state for drivers, it’s far from exemplary. Among the six Tennessee cities analyzed in the study, only two showed improvement in their 2025 rankings, suggesting persistent challenges across the Volunteer State.
Memphis maintained its unwanted top position with alarming statistics: 17.96 crashes attributed to poor driving behavior and 38.79 total fatalities per 100,000 residents. The city also recorded 2.23 DUI-related deaths, 8.58 speed-related fatalities, and 9.22 deaths involving drivers with positive blood alcohol levels. The only positive note was a decrease in DUI-related fatalities and alcohol-involved deaths compared to 2024.
Perhaps most striking was Knoxville’s dramatic rise from 25th place in 2024 to second worst nationwide. The city recorded 13.94 crashes per 100,000 people related to poor driving, along with 31.49 total fatalities. Particularly concerning were the 3.61 DUI-related deaths and 9.29 speed-related fatalities per 100,000 residents.
Statewide Performance Varies Dramatically
The remaining Tennessee cities showed a wide range of performance levels:
Chattanooga climbed from 34th to 16th place, recording 9.30 bad driving crashes and 20.24 total fatalities per 100,000 people. Speed-related deaths (5.47) and alcohol-involved fatalities (4.92) contributed significantly to its ranking.
Clarksville experienced a substantial jump from 93rd to 29th place, with 8.14 crashes attributed to poor driving and 18.03 total fatalities per 100,000 residents. The city had relatively low DUI fatalities (1.16) but higher speed-related deaths (6.40).
Nashville showed modest improvement, moving from 53rd to 55th place. The capital recorded 6.0 crashes related to bad driving and 16.4 total fatalities per 100,000 people, with notably low speed-related deaths (3.4) but higher alcohol-involved fatalities (6.0).
Murfreesboro stood out as Tennessee’s safest driving city, ranking 191st nationally with a crash score of 16.9. The city recorded just 2.6 crashes related to poor driving and 7.2 total fatalities per 100,000 residents, though it slipped slightly from 185th place in 2024.
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National Context
Memphis’s retention of the worst driver ranking reflects broader patterns across the country. The city led the nation in crash fatalities and deaths involving drivers with positive blood alcohol content, highlighting persistent issues with both reckless driving and impaired driving.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Frisco, Texas, claimed the title for best drivers, recording zero crashes related to poor driving, zero DUI fatalities, zero speed-related deaths, and zero alcohol-involved fatalities. With only 0.48 total fatalities per 100,000 residents, Frisco demonstrates that dramatic improvements in road safety are possible.
