Scottsdale named one of the safest U.S. cities for drivers
City’s data-driven approach and community investment in safer streets earn national recognition
Scottsdale’s long-standing commitment to building and maintaining a safe, efficient, and innovative transportation network is in the spotlight as the city has earned recognition as one of the safest cities in the nation for drivers.
According to the 2025 Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report, Scottsdale ranked as the No. 7 safest city for drivers nationwide and earned the distinction of being the safest city in Arizona for motorists - a substantial rise from its No. 39 national ranking a decade ago.
“The steady climb in Scottsdale’s safety rating can be attributed to many things,” said City Manager Greg Caton. “A thoughtfully designed roadway network in combination with consistent and thoughtful police enforcement reduces traffic congestion and saves lives. None of it happens by accident - it’s the product of smart planning, data-driven decisions, and a community that consistently chooses to invest in safer streets through our police department and our dedicated transportation sales tax."
Proactive roadway management through real-time monitoring
A portion of Scottsdale's team of traffic engineers are dedicated to operating an advanced Traffic Management Center, the heart of the city’s Intelligent Transportation System. The TMC is where staff monitor road conditions and traffic flow in real time thanks to hundreds of live traffic cameras and sensors connected by 225 miles of fiber optic cable.
This network allows staff to adjust timing at more than 300 intersection signals, manage congestion, and respond quickly to incidents across the city’s roadways. Additional staff are frequently assigned to the TMC to manage traffic flows specific to Scottsdale's major special events.
A data-driven, team approach to safer streets
Scottsdale was one of the first cities in the Valley to start tracking its own collision and traffic volume data and has published the information in a report every two years since 1986.
The city’s traffic engineers work hand-in-hand with the Scottsdale Police Department to identify and address safety concerns using a combination of enforcement, education, and engineering. This collaboration ensures that both long-term planning and day-to-day operations support safer streets for everyone who travels in Scottsdale.
In addition to high-tech traffic operations and public safety partnerships, Scottsdale continues to invest in the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program, through which residents can work with city engineers and police to study speeding concerns and implement traffic-calming measures such as speed cushions, pedestrian crossings, and speed feedback signs.
Looking forward: Safe Streets Scottsdale
In early 2025, the city launched Safe Streets Scottsdale, a citywide plan aimed at further reducing serious and fatal collisions on our roadways. The initiative focuses on high-risk corridors and incorporates community input from motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and transit users. The resulting plan will guide additional long-term safety strategies and infrastructure improvements.
“Safety is at the heart of everything we do in transportation,” said Alison Tymkiw, senior director of Scottsdale’s transportation and infrastructure department. “This national recognition reinforces the work our team does every day to plan, engineer, build and maintain a system that moves traffic while protecting drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike to the maximum extent possible.”
To learn more about Scottsdale’s transportation safety efforts, visit ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “traffic engineering.”
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