Scottsdale has been recognized as one of the safest cities in the United States for drivers, according to the 2025 Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report. The city ranked seventh nationwide and was named the safest city in Arizona for motorists, marking a significant improvement from its 39th place national ranking ten years ago.
City Manager Greg Caton attributed this progress to a combination of factors. “The steady climb in Scottsdale’s safety rating can be attributed to many things,” Caton said. “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.”
Scottsdale operates an advanced Traffic Management Center (TMC), which is central to its Intelligent Transportation System. The TMC uses hundreds of live traffic cameras and sensors connected by 225 miles of fiber optic cable to monitor road conditions and traffic flow in real time. This infrastructure allows staff to adjust timing at more than 300 intersection signals, manage congestion, and respond quickly to incidents throughout the city. During major special events, additional staff are assigned to the TMC to help manage increased traffic flows.
The city has also been proactive in tracking collision and traffic volume data since 1986, publishing a report every two years. Scottsdale’s traffic engineers collaborate closely with the Scottsdale Police Department to address safety concerns using enforcement, education, and engineering strategies.
Residents can participate in the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program, working with city engineers and police on issues such as speeding. This program implements measures like speed cushions, pedestrian crossings, and speed feedback signs based on community input.
In early 2025, Scottsdale launched Safe Streets Scottsdale—a citywide plan focused on reducing serious and fatal collisions. The initiative targets high-risk corridors and incorporates feedback from motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users to guide future 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.”
Further details about Scottsdale’s transportation safety efforts are available at ScottsdaleAZ.gov by searching for “traffic engineering.”
