Is Sioux Falls Really One of the Most Dangerous for Drivers?

Sometimes in life, you have to own your shortcomings. But there are times when you need to push back if the facts don't support the things people are saying about you.

Sioux Falls is finding that out after a new report was issued about the most unsafe cities for drivers in America.

In that report, MarketWatch has South Dakota's largest city on the list.

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To learn which cities were most hazardous for motorists, they looked at National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics on fatal vehicle crashes, DUI arrests, and car theft.

Sioux Falls is one of six cities nationwide to make the most unsafe list, but is the ranking legit?

Not exactly.

Here's the official explanation from MarketWatch about Sioux Falls' inclusion on the list:

'South Dakota had the highest DUI arrest rate in the country in 2019, coming in at 676.5 arrests per 100,000 people. There were 52 alcohol-related crash fatalities in the state in 2021, giving it a rate of 5.8 deaths per 100,000 people. Sioux Falls makes our list of the most dangerous cities for drivers based on this state data and the fact that it’s South Dakota’s only city with at least 100,000 people.'

Did you catch that?

Because Sioux Falls is the largest city in the state with the highest DUI arrest rate in the country it must have some of the most dangerous roads in America.

I'm not saying that might not be true, but without any actual data about the city's own DUI numbers, it's hardly conclusive.