Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Four California Cities Among Top Five in U.S. for Worst Drivers

QuoteWizard’s annual report evaluates cities for best and worst drivers.

July 15, 2022
Four California Cities Among Top Five in U.S. for Worst Drivers

Bakersfield, Calif. takes the top spot for worst drivers in the nation. But three other sister cities in The Golden State also make the top five list.

2 min to read


Four California cities rank among the top five cities with the worst drivers in the country, according to a new report from QuoteWizard.

A team of analysts at QuoteWizard evaluated over 6 million car insurance quotes in America’s 70 largest cities to find data on each city's number of accidents, DUIs, speeding tickets, and citations. This dangerous driving data was then used to rank each city’s driving ability.

Ad Loading...

The Golden State is known for its crowded and frustrating freeways, so maybe it should come as no surprise that it is also known for bad driving habits. Bakersfield, California, takes first place for worst drivers in the nation. The city ranks eighth in accidents and citations, fourth in speeding, and has the highest DUI rate.

Sacramento came in a close second on the QuoteWizard list. The city ranked in the top 10 for accidents, DUIs, and citations, and it ranked just outside the top 10 in speeding.

In third place for worst drivers, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has the highest accident rate in the nation, the third-highest citation rate, and a high number of DUIs and speeding violations, as well. Noteworthy, Baton Rouge really took a nosedive this year — it was ranked eighth for cities with the best drivers on the 2021 QuoteWizard list!

The City of Angels spent the last year driving like the devil. Los Angeles drivers were among the best drivers in 2021, but now the city is home to the fourth-worst drivers in the nation. L.A. had the third-highest rate of accidents, second-highest rate of citations, and the fourth-highest rate of DUIs. 

Another California city — San Francisco — takes fifth place for worst drivers. Traditionally, San Francisco has ranked high in speeding and citations. However, this year the City by the Bay also saw a spike in accidents and DUIs —ranking 12th and seventh, respectively.

Ad Loading...

On the upside, some cities appear to play host to drivers that are more cautious and less likely to get into collisions.

Louisville, Kentucky, leads the way as the city with the best drivers — claiming the lowest number of citations in the nation and a low accident rate as well. Hartford, Connecticut, ranks in second place for cities with best drivers, proving a good track record for avoiding accidents and citations. Others that made the top five list for best drivers include Little Rock, Arkansas, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

More Safety

Ambulance and damaged car at a crash scene on a rainy roadway, illustrating workplace transportation risks and the growing focus on road safety management for fleets.
SafetyJune 16, 2026

Managing Road Risk at Scale: Why Fleet Safety Needs a Data-Driven Framework

Insights from the FIA Road and Driver Safety Indexes reveal how to manage road risk on a larger scale.

Read More →
Close-up of a Jeep Wrangler front grille and headlight with text noting Stellantis’ recall of 1.3 million Jeep vehicles worldwide over a potential fire risk tied to power steering wiring.
Safetyby StaffJune 10, 2026

Stellantis Recalls 1.3 Million Jeep Vehicles Worldwide Over Fire Risk

Stellantis is recalling more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models worldwide over a fire risk linked to power steering pump wiring.

Read More →
Road signs pointing to “Safe” and “Risky” beside a glowing AI network graphic, illustrating the role of artificial intelligence in driver safety, coaching, training, and risk management.
SafetyJune 10, 2026

Coaching Is Not Training, Even When AI Is Doing It

AI-powered safety platforms can detect risky behaviors and deliver immediate feedback. But effective driver development still requires a foundation of training followed by coaching that reinforces those skills.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Driver resting in a vehicle seat, illustrating the dangers of fatigue and the importance of driver wellness, rest, and alertness for safe fleet and roadway operations.
Safetyby Judie NuskeyJune 9, 2026

How Emotions Behind the Wheel Can Affect Fleet Safety

During National Safety Month, fleets are encouraged to look beyond distracted driving and recognize how stress, fatigue, and emotional well-being influence driver performance and crash risk.

Read More →
A blue and red Automotive Fleet graphic calling for nominations for the fleet safety award.
Safetyby Faith HowellJune 4, 2026

Nominations Open for 2026 Fleet Safety Award

Nominations have officially opened for the 2026 Fleet Safety Award Winner.

Read More →
wheel geotab image
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter

Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A person holding a clipboard and writing on an inspection checklist beside the wheel of a large white vehicle, likely conducting a fleet or safety inspection.
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-time Prevention

Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Learn more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab.

Read More →
A Fleet Forward Conference graphic representing the safety symposium.
Safetyby Chris BrownMay 29, 2026

NAFA Fleet Safety Symposium to Collocate With 2026 Fleet Forward Conference

The daylong certificate program will precede the Fleet Forward Conference at the Gaylord National Harbor in Maryland.

Read More →
A person with hands on the steering wheel driving
Safetyby Judie NuskeyMay 15, 2026

The Distractions You Can’t Turn Off: What Drivers Face Outside the Vehicle

Fleet drivers face constant visual, cognitive, and environmental interruptions the moment they hit the road. From roadside chaos to mental fatigue and digital overload, today’s biggest driving risks often come from outside the vehicle itself.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Hail covers the windshield and hood of a black vehicle with text overlay about FLASH Weather AI’s new hail prediction model.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseMay 13, 2026

FLASH Weather AI Launches First Deep-Learning Hail Prediction Model With High-Resolution Forecasting

FLASH Weather AI has launched a first-of-its-kind hail prediction model capable of forecasting hail size and arrival time at 1-kilometer resolution up to 55 minutes ahead, giving fleets and insurers critical time to prepare for severe storms.

Read More →