Louisiana Cities With the Most Dangerous Drivers

LOUISIANA - From aggressive drivers, distracted motorists, heavy traffic, and dangerous intersections, driving around Acadiana and Louisiana can test your patience.

But, are some Louisiana cities worse than others?

Yep.

Crash statistics, traffic data, fatal accident rates, and bad roads show that several Louisiana cities stand out when it comes to dangerous driving conditions.

Get our free mobile app

What Louisiana Cities Have The Worst Drivers?

Heavy traffic, population growth, speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, poor road conditions, and the number of serious crashes can all play a role.

Based on available crash data and driving safety reports from stacker.com, these Louisiana cities continue to be the most dangerous in the state.

1. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The combination of heavy traffic, rapidly growing suburbs, major highways, and some of the busiest commuter routes in Louisiana can make getting around the capital city frustrating.

READ MORE: 6 Crucial Louisiana Speeding Laws You Need to Know

Traffic on I-10 and I-12 is often unpredictable, while other roads can become heavily congested during rush hour. Baton Rouge also has a significant number of serious and fatal crashes when compared to other Louisiana cities.

From stacker.com -

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 2.4 (About 2.0x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 54 (59 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: Interstates (14 fatal accidents)

car crash

2. Monroe, Louisiana

Monroe may be smaller than Baton Rouge, New Orleans, or Shreveport, but its crash stats are still concerning.

When fatal crashes are considered in relation to population, Monroe has appeared among one of the more dangerous places to drive in Louisiana.

A smaller population doesn't automatically mean safer roads.

READ MORE: Is It Legal to Flash Your Headlights to Warn About Police?

Speeding, distracted driving, and rural highways surrounding the Monroe area all contribute to dangerous driving conditions.

From stacker.com -

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 2.1 (About 1.8x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 10 (11 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: U.S. highways (4 fatal accidents)

3. New Orleans, Louisiana

Shocked that Monroe ranked ahead of New Orleans for dangerous drivers? We were too.

New Orleans has narrow streets, a whole lot of potholes, heavy traffic, pedestrians, tourists, bicycles, rideshare vehicles, and drivers who may not know exactly where they're going.

Add everything together, and it creates very unpredictable driving conditions.

From slacker.com -

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 1.9 (About 1.6x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 70 (73 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: Local city streets (21 fatal accidents)

4. Lafayette, Louisiana

Downtown Lafayette, Facebook

For those of us who drive around Lafayette everyday, the Hub City landing at number 4 on this list probably doesn't surprise anyone.

Anyone who regularly drives Johnston Street, Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Kaliste Saloom Road, or portions of Interstate 10 knows traffic can become frustrating in a hurry.

Lafayette may not always rank at the very top of statewide crash lists, but congestion and frequent accidents remain a concern. Rapid development has also placed additional pressure on roads that were not originally designed to handle today's traffic levels.

From slacker.com -

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 1.9 (About 1.6x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 23 (23 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: Local city streets (10 fatal accidents)

5. Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport rounds out the list of Louisiana cities dealing with significantly dangerous driving and roadway safety concerns.

The city has experienced higher-than-average crash risks, including serious and fatal accidents.

Like other cities across Louisiana, Shreveport drivers deal with speeding, distracted driving, aggressive behavior, and dangerous intersections. Road conditions also play a role.

From slacker.com -

- Fatal accidents per 10,000 residents: 1.6 (About 1.4x the national average)
- Total fatal accidents: 28 (29 fatalities)
- Most common crash site: State highways (12 fatal accidents)

Read more at slacker.com.