News Summary
Huntsville has been rated as one of the safest large cities in the U.S. for drivers, according to an Allstate report. The average time between car accidents has improved, placing the city among the top 12 nationally. Meanwhile, other major Alabama cities have seen declines in driver safety. Additionally, Huntsville is dealing with ongoing civil lawsuits related to recent accidents, highlighting the importance of driver safety awareness.
Huntsville has been recognized as one of the safest large cities in the United States for drivers, according to a recent report from Allstate Insurance Co. The average time between car accidents for drivers in Huntsville increased from 11.7 years in 2015 to an impressive 12 years projected for 2025. This places Huntsville among the top 12 safest cities nationwide, highlighting a continued improvement in driving safety in the region.
Allstate’s analysis examined the 200 largest cities across the United States, focusing on the average time between car accidents. In contrast, the national average time between collisions has seen a notable increase from 10.1 years in 2015 to 10.6 years in 2025. Huntsville is now the only major city in Alabama where driving conditions are considered safer than the national average based on the latest data from 2022 to 2023.
While Huntsville has made strides in driver safety, other major cities in Alabama have significantly worsened. Montgomery fell sharply from 13th place to 61st, Birmingham dropped from 20th to 55th, and Mobile experienced a decline from 25th to 65th. This trend reflects deteriorating driving conditions in these cities, where the miles of driving present a more challenging environment for road users compared to the national average.
Despite Huntsville’s drop in overall safety ranking from 9th in 2015 to 12th in the latest report, the city’s improved awareness regarding safe driving practices is evident. The Allstate report aims to promote discussions related to safe driving and encourages drivers to remain attentive behind the wheel.
Local Accident Lawsuit
The city of Huntsville is currently facing a civil lawsuit concerning a car accident that occurred in February 2024. The accident involved Shawn Randall, an employee of the Huntsville Landscape Management Department, whose city work truck collided with a family’s vehicle at the Hillcrest Court intersection. Following the incident, it took over a year for toxicology results to confirm that Randall was intoxicated at the time of the crash. In March 2025, he was arrested but remains employed by the city.
According to Alabama law, the city is liable for a maximum of $100,000 in damages resulting from accidents caused by its employees, regardless of any court awards. The civil suit against Randall is still pending, indicating ongoing concerns surrounding driver safety and accountability within the city departments.
Recent Fatal Accident
This report on driver safety comes in light of a tragic fatal accident that occurred in Huntsville. On January 21, Felicia L. Hereford-Kaigler, 64, lost her life in a head-on collision involving her Honda Civic and a Kenworth T680 tractor-trailer. The accident happened just one day after another incident reported by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). It was noted that Hereford-Kaigler was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division is continuing its investigation into this incident.
Overall, the findings from Allstate’s report suggest a positive trend in driver safety specifically for Huntsville, juxtaposed against a backdrop of declining conditions in other Alabama cities. The ongoing civil and criminal matters concerning traffic accidents continue to underscore the importance of accountability and safe driving habits on the roads.
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Additional Resources
- AL.com: Alabama City Best Drivers
- Wikipedia: Traffic Safety
- WAFF: Huntsville Employee Charged
- Google Search: Huntsville Car Accident Laws
- WHNT: Crash on Redstone Road
- Google Scholar: Traffic Accidents Huntsville
- AL.com: Huntsville Fatal Car Crashes
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Automobile Accidents
- WHNT: Man Charged Leaving Scene
- Google News: Huntsville Traffic Safety
Author: STAFF HERE HUNTSVILLE WRITER
The HUNTSVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHuntsville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Huntsville, Madison County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Panoply Arts Festival, Rocket City Brewfest, and Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, plus leading businesses in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Boeing, SAIC, and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBirmingham.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
