Top 10 most dangerous and safest cities to drive in Ontario in 2024

Have you noticed more car accidents happening in your area lately? Unfortunately, you're not imagining it.

The Ontario Provincial Police reported that 2023 had the highest number of car collision-related deaths on Ontario highways since 2007, making it the deadliest year in over 15 years. On top of that, the preliminary 2023 Ontario Road Safety Annual Report revealed that over 36,700 people lost their lives in fatal accidents across the province.

If you're thinking about relocating to a place with safer roads, keep reading—we’ll break down the safest and most dangerous cities for driving.

Ontario's safest and most dangerous cities to drive in

Toronto ranked as the safest city and Brantford emerged as the most dangerous city for driving in Ontario, according to MyChoice.

MyChoice, a Canadian insurtech company that runs an insurance rate comparison website, recently released a list of the safest and most dangerous cities for driving in Ontario. The list is based on data from 150,000 car insurance quotes collected since 2020. It takes into account crash and infraction records, with scores weighted by how severe the collisions and infractions were.

Cities were rated on a scale of zero to five, with five being the best and zero being the worst. Curious about where your city stands? Take a look below:

Top 10 safest cities to drive in

Toronto stands out as one of the safer spots for drivers, scoring an impressive 4.4 out of 5. Its high ranking comes from lower rates of traffic violations and accidents.

Top 10 most dangerous cities for driving

Brantford scored the lowest, with just 0.7 out of 5, making it one of the riskiest cities for drivers. It tops the list for the highest percentage of traffic tickets issued and accidents.

What these rankings mean for car insurance

Your car insurance premiums are based on several factors, including your location and driving record. The following sections will explore each in detail:

Location

Since Toronto ranks as the safest city to drive in, chances are good that if you live in Toronto, you're likely to see lower car insurance rates than if you live in Brantford, which ranks the most dangerous.

Where you live actually plays a big role in determining your rates. For example, people in rural areas usually pay less for car insurance than those in big cities. Why? With more cars on the road in cities, there’s a higher chance of accidents compared to quieter, less congested small towns. Insurance companies also consider the risk levels of nearby areas when calculating your rates, like if your neighbourhood is known for more car thefts.

Driving record

Another factor that's heavily considered is your driving record. If there are any driving infractions or accidents on your record, they will cause your insurance premiums to go up.

According to MyChoice, 18.18% of Brantford drivers have infractions on their driving record while only 6.17% of Toronto drivers do. Also, 15.15% of Brantford drivers have accidents on their driving records versus 6.13% of Toronto drivers. Since Brantford drivers have significantly more traffic violations and accidents than Toronto drivers, Brantford drivers will likely see much higher premiums compared to Toronto.

Basically, when it comes to car insurance, you want to keep aclean driving record. If you’ve got a clean driving record, you’ll pay lower premiums than someone with traffic violations or a long claims history. Safe driving doesn’t just keep you out of trouble, it also saves you money over time.

Car insurance for Ontario drivers

Car insurance is mandatory in Ontario for all drivers, and it's especially important for those who live in the more risky cities for driving. Having the right car insurance can protect you from expensive lawsuits or repair costs if you get into an accident. There are several types of auto insurance that Ontario drivers should strongly consider:

• Third-party liability coverage
• Accident benefits coverage
• Uninsured motorist coverage
• Direct compensation-property damage coverage
• Collision coverage
• Comprehensive coverage
• Accident forgiveness coverage

Having third-party liability coverage and accident benefits is a must. Third-party liability covers injuries, property damage to others, and legal fees if you're at fault in an accident. Accident benefits take care of medical expenses for you and your passengers if you're injured, and provide compensation in fatal crashes. There's also uninsured motorist coverage, which is mandatory too—it protects you if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, doesn’t have enough, or takes off after a hit-and-run.

Collision coverage should be a must, as it covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle after a collision. Comprehensive is another essential, as it covers the cost of non-collision damage to your vehicle, such as falling objects or weather damage. And if you're worried about your premiums going up, you'll definitely want accident forgiveness. It "forgives" your first at-fault accident, so it doesn’t cause your rates to spike when it’s time to renew.

Learn more with BrokerLink

No matter if you’re in one of the safest cities or the most dangerous, having the right car insurance is crucial to protect yourself in case of an accident. The thing about accidents is you never know when they’ll happen, so it’s always better to stay protected.

If you have any questions about your car insurance policy or how where you live may affect your premiums, reach out to BrokerLink. Our expert insurance agents are here to find you the best coverage at the right price and answer any questions you may have, like what the difference is between a primary and secondary driver. We will even offer you expert advice, such as our tips on getting over the fear of driving.

You can reach us by phone, email, or in person at any one of our locations throughout Ontario. No matter how you choose to get in touch, a BrokerLink insurance advisor will be happy to assist you. We also encourage you to take advantage of our free online quote tool that can provide you with a competitive quote in minutes.

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