When it comes to traffic safety, you might call North Texas a two-way street. The region is home to both the most dangerous place and the safest place for drivers among Texas’ 40 biggest cities.

An analysis of 2018 data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Texas Department of Transportation published by Austin-based Aceable, a provider of online driving courses, puts Dallas at No. 1 among the 20 most dangerous cities.

Yet the suburb of Allen comes in at No. 1 among the 20 safest cities.

According to data presented in October to the Dallas City Council, Dallas is saddled with the fifth highest rate of fatal traffic accidents among the 25 largest U.S. cities. Dallas is working on a plan to reduce the number of traffic fatalities; the plan would include education initiatives and improvements in roadway design.

“We cannot afford to have another person injured or killed,” Michael Rogers, director of the Dallas Department of Transportation, told council members.

Aceable ranked the 40 cities for danger or safety based on the number of fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents. In the danger zone, Dallas sits at No. 1, with 14.42 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents.

Meanwhile, Allen recorded no fatal traffic accidents, tying it with the Houston suburb of The Woodlands for the title of Texas’ safest large city for drivers.

“From distracted driving to drunk and drugged driving to drowsy driving to outdated laws and infrastructure, there are many factors that play a role in road safety — and the reality is most accidents are actually largely preventable,” Laura Adams, driving safety and education analyst at Aceable, says in a February 19 release. “We hope this report encourages drivers, local leaders, and legislators across the state to take action to make the roads safer.”

Most dangerous cities
Here are the other North Texas cities that show up on the list of the most dangerous cities for drivers:

4. Fort Worth, 10.61 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
7. Denton, 9.38 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
16. Mesquite, 7.70 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
17. Lewisville, 7.51 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
19. Carrollton, 6.63 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents

Other Texas cities on the most-dangerous list include San Antonio, No. 11, with 8.81 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents; Houston, tied for No. 14, with 8.13 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents; and Austin, No. 18, with 6.84 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents.

Safest cities
Aside from Allen, North Texas cities on the safer side of the road are:

3. Frisco, 1.59 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
7. Plano, 2.78 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
8. Irving, 2.89 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
10. McKinney, 3.65 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
12. Richardson, 4.13 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
14. Grand Prairie, 5.65 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
15. Garland, 5.77 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents
19. Arlington, 6.53 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents

Elsewhere in Texas, Pearland ranks fourth on the safest-cities list, 1.64 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents; Sugar Land ranks fifth, 1.69 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents; Round Rock, ranks ninth, 3.11 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents; Pasadena ranks 11th, 3.92 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents; and League City ranks 20th, 6.59 fatal traffic accidents per 100,000 residents.