LIST: Virginia’s most dangerous cities to drive in
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia's drivers spend a lot of time on the road, with most recent U.S. Census Bureau data showing that the Virginians' average daily commute is nearly 30 minutes. Whether you're driving to work or for leisure, in which cities should you be the most worried about a crash? Traffic data throughout Virginia is tracked by the Traffic Records Electronic Data System (TREDS). According to TREDS there were a total of 127,597 crashes across Virginia in 2023. These crashes killed 907 people and injured 63,876. While 2023 saw more crashes than the year prior (127,597 to 122,434), it was less deadly with almost 100 more people dying in crashes in 2022 (907 to 1,005). 8News took a look at TREDS data from 2023 and, using 2023 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, attempted to figure out if any Virginia cities saw more crashes than others. Keep scrolling to see if your city made the list. Methodology To create this list, 8News took the total number of deaths caused by crashes in 2023 in each of Virginia's cities and scaled those deaths to population size, as indicated by the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 population estimates. Initially, when all cities' traffic deaths per 10,000 residents were calculated this way, a city with only one traffic death in 2023 -- Emporia -- ranked #1. Another city with only one traffic death, Franklin, came in at #7, and Hopewell ranked #10 with only two. Both Emporia and Franklin's 2023 population estimates were under 10,000 and Hopewell's was just over 20,000. Such low populations appear to have inflated the cities' traffic death rates. ‘A tale as old as time’: Richmonders call for more traffic enforcement after another driver crashes into home Moving forward, to prevent such potential outliers, 8News removed cities with very low populations, as well as those with three or fewer traffic deaths. Virginia cities with most traffic deaths per 10,000 residents With those adjustments, Hampton came in at #1, with a rate of 1.53 traffic deaths per 10,000 residents in 2023. Cities that followed behind were Manassas, Portsmouth and Richmond, respectively. Manassas is one of the two cities in this ranking with fewer than 10 traffic deaths, with TREDS indicating six people were killed by drivers in Manassas in 2023. The other is Petersburg, which ranked #5 with its four traffic deaths. Petersburg also has the lowest population on this adjusted list with 33,309, per census estimates. RankCity2023 Traffic DeathsDeath Rate per 10,000 Residents1Hampton211.532Manassas61.413Portsmouth121.244Richmond281.225Petersburg41.206Suffolk121.197Roanoke101.038Virginia Beach360.799Chesapeake170.6710Newport News120.66Data: Traffic Records Electronic Data System (TREDS), U.S. Census Bureau 2023 population estimates In this ranking, the city with the most total deaths -- Virginia Beach -- is ranked #8. It is also the city with the highest population at over 450,000. Same data, compared to statewide population People who are killed in crashes are not always residents of the city or county where the crash took place. In an attempt to better capture those who are getting into crashes while traveling, 8News used the same TREDS data and compared it to Virginia's statewide population. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 population estimate for Virginia is 8,715,698 residents. 8News then calculated each city by total traffic deaths per 100,000 Virginia residents. VIDEO: Crash near 2nd Street Festival sparks continued concerns on speeding in Richmond As they were all weighed against the same total population, the cities fell in order of total traffic deaths in this ranking. Virginia Beach came in at #1 and Manassas came in at #10. Petersburg fell off the top ten list, landing at #11, while Norfolk joined the list and landed at #5. RankCity2023 Traffic DeathsDeath Rate per 100,000 Va. Residents1Virginia Beach36.412Richmond28.323Hampton21.244Chesapeake17.205Norfolk15.176Portsmouth12.147Suffolk12.148Newport News12.149Roanoke10.1110Manassas60.07Data: Traffic Records Electronic Data System (TREDS), U.S. Census Bureau 2023 population estimates Across both rankings, Richmond and Hampton remained in the top 5.
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia's drivers spend a lot of time on the road, with most recent U.S. Census Bureau data showing that the Virginians' average daily commute is nearly 30 minutes. Whether you're driving to work or for leisure, in which cities should you be the most worried about a crash?
Traffic data throughout Virginia is tracked by the Traffic Records Electronic Data System (TREDS). According to TREDS there were a total of 127,597 crashes across Virginia in 2023. These crashes killed 907 people and injured 63,876.
While 2023 saw more crashes than the year prior (127,597 to 122,434), it was less deadly with almost 100 more people dying in crashes in 2022 (907 to 1,005).
8News took a look at TREDS data from 2023 and, using 2023 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, attempted to figure out if any Virginia cities saw more crashes than others. Keep scrolling to see if your city made the list.
Methodology
To create this list, 8News took the total number of deaths caused by crashes in 2023 in each of Virginia's cities and scaled those deaths to population size, as indicated by the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 population estimates.
Initially, when all cities' traffic deaths per 10,000 residents were calculated this way, a city with only one traffic death in 2023 -- Emporia -- ranked #1. Another city with only one traffic death, Franklin, came in at #7, and Hopewell ranked #10 with only two.
Both Emporia and Franklin's 2023 population estimates were under 10,000 and Hopewell's was just over 20,000. Such low populations appear to have inflated the cities' traffic death rates.
Moving forward, to prevent such potential outliers, 8News removed cities with very low populations, as well as those with three or fewer traffic deaths.
Virginia cities with most traffic deaths per 10,000 residents
With those adjustments, Hampton came in at #1, with a rate of 1.53 traffic deaths per 10,000 residents in 2023.
Cities that followed behind were Manassas, Portsmouth and Richmond, respectively. Manassas is one of the two cities in this ranking with fewer than 10 traffic deaths, with TREDS indicating six people were killed by drivers in Manassas in 2023. The other is Petersburg, which ranked #5 with its four traffic deaths. Petersburg also has the lowest population on this adjusted list with 33,309, per census estimates.
Rank City 2023 Traffic Deaths Death Rate per 10,000 Residents 1 Hampton 21 1.53 2 Manassas 6 1.41 3 Portsmouth 12 1.24 4 Richmond 28 1.22 5 Petersburg 4 1.20 6 Suffolk 12 1.19 7 Roanoke 10 1.03 8 Virginia Beach 36 0.79 9 Chesapeake 17 0.67 10 Newport News 12 0.66
In this ranking, the city with the most total deaths -- Virginia Beach -- is ranked #8. It is also the city with the highest population at over 450,000.
Same data, compared to statewide population
People who are killed in crashes are not always residents of the city or county where the crash took place. In an attempt to better capture those who are getting into crashes while traveling, 8News used the same TREDS data and compared it to Virginia's statewide population.
The U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 population estimate for Virginia is 8,715,698 residents. 8News then calculated each city by total traffic deaths per 100,000 Virginia residents.
VIDEO: Crash near 2nd Street Festival sparks continued concerns on speeding in Richmond
As they were all weighed against the same total population, the cities fell in order of total traffic deaths in this ranking. Virginia Beach came in at #1 and Manassas came in at #10.
Petersburg fell off the top ten list, landing at #11, while Norfolk joined the list and landed at #5.
Rank City 2023 Traffic Deaths Death Rate per 100,000 Va. Residents 1 Virginia Beach 36 .41 2 Richmond 28 .32 3 Hampton 21 .24 4 Chesapeake 17 .20 5 Norfolk 15 .17 6 Portsmouth 12 .14 7 Suffolk 12 .14 8 Newport News 12 .14 9 Roanoke 10 .11 10 Manassas 6 0.07
Across both rankings, Richmond and Hampton remained in the top 5.
