What New Mexico Cities Have the Most Car Accidents?

October 3, 2024 | Car Accidents

What New Mexico Cities Have the Most Car Accidents?

Thousands of motor vehicle accidents occur on New Mexico roadways each year, with many resulting in injuries and fatalities. Some of the state’s cities have more crashes than others — a couple, including Albuquerque, have received nationwide notoriety for their excessive number of wrecks.

New Mexico Crash Stats and Contributing Factors

The 2022 New Mexico Traffic Crash Annual Report, released in April 2024 by the University of New Mexico (UNM), provides a comprehensive analysis of collisions in the state. 

Produced by UNM’s Geospatial and Population Studies for the New Mexico Department of Transportation (DOT), the report shows there were 40,884 crashes on the state’s public roadways in 2022. These accidents killed 466 people and injured 18,228 others — that’s 31% of all crashes causing injuries.

The UNM report highlights the top contributors to accidents. They include:

  • Driver inattention (18.1%)
  • Failed to yield the right of way (6.1%)
  • Other improper driving (4.6%)
  • Following too closely (4.2%)

The most prevalent contributors in crashes involving fatalities are:

In some areas, tourists and passersby also are a factor. They’re hard to miss in crash data of less populated cities.

The 7 New Mexico Cities With the Most Car Accidents

The UNM report breaks down the cities with the highest number of traffic crashes. The top seven are featured below.

Albuquerque

In September 2024, USA Today ranked Albuquerque as the city with the third-highest fatality rate in the nation. This was not the first time the state’s largest city, with a population of 561,008, made such a list. The UNM report reveals that a total of 12,577 accidents occurred in Albuquerque in 2022. That includes 4,118 injury crashes and 87 fatal crashes. The city’s crash rate is 22.4 crashes per 1,000 residents.

Las Cruces

Located near the Chihuahuan Desert at an elevation of 3,999 feet, nearly 114,000 New Mexicans call Las Cruces home. In 2022, the city was the backdrop for 3,261 crashes: 13 fatal and 941 with injuries. The city’s crash rate is 28.6 crashes per 1,000 residents.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe is a hotspot for tourists, attracting about two million annually. The city, with a population of 89,000, witnessed 1,978 crashes in 2022, 11 fatal and 729 with injuries. Its crash rate is 22.2 crashes per 1,000 residents.

Rio Rancho

Rio Rancho has a population of 108,082, making it the state’s third-largest city. In 2022, 1,293 crashes occurred on city roads, six fatal and 345 with injuries. It has a crash rate of 12.0 crashes per 1,000 residents.

Farmington

Farmington is the largest city in San Juan County, with a population of 46,127. In 2022, motorists were involved in 1,286 crashes, six fatal and 359 with injuries. The crash rate is 27.9 crashes per 1,000 residents.

Hobbs

Located in Lea County, Hobbs has a population of nearly 40,000. The city experienced 1,038 crashes in 2022, seven fatal and 349 with injuries. Its crash rate is 26.2 crashes per 1,000 residents.

Roswell

A magnet for UFO enthusiasts, Roswell — population 47,390 — reported 873 crashes in 2022, three fatal and 324 with injuries. Its crash rate sits at 18.4 crashes per 1,000 residents.

Safety Is a Priority For State and Local Authorities

State and local authorities are well aware of the dangers on New Mexico roads. In addition to planned road improvement projects, it has developed special initiatives to reduce the number of accidents. An example is Target Zero New Mexico, a DOT effort to coordinate the agency’s transportation safety work and place extra emphasis on safety. Albuquerque also has its Vision Zero Action Plan, aimed at achieving zero traffic deaths by 2040.

Contact the New Mexico Car Accident Lawyers at Curiel & Runion Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Today

If you were injured in an accident in Albuquerque, NM, and need legal help, contact our Albuquerque car accident attorneys at Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case review today.

Curiel & Runion Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
400 Gold Avenue SW, Suite 650
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 594-3621