A recent study by ConsumerAffairs found that Charleston ranks among the 10 worst cities for drivers in the nation.
To determine the best and worst drivers by city, the ConsumerAffairs research team analyzed the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash data.
Key findings for the Holy City include:
- Charleston was ranked as the 10th-worst city for drivers in the nation
- Charleston jumped from the 133rd-worst city in 2024 to the 10th-worst in 2025. The rise in ranking is attributed in part to high rates of fatalities involving positive blood-alcohol content (BAC) readings and speeding.
- The city has the fourth-highest rate of deaths involving positive BAC readings (7.24 per 100,000 residents) and the 11th-highest rate of deaths involving speeding (8.55 per 100,000 residents).
- Distracted or inattentive driving contributes to more than 20,000 crashes each year in South Carolina.