A new report from The Consumer Affairs Journal of Consumer Research ranks Waterbury as the city with the worst drivers in the country. The report’s criteria for “worst drivers” include aggressive, careless, and wrong-way driving, among other factors. According to the report’s methodology, the research team uses crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System. They evaluated over 300 cities with populations of 100,000 people or higher. They evaluated fatal crashes per 100,000 people based on bad driving, positive blood alcohol content, driving under the influence, and speeding. “Each city received a score from zero to 20 for each factor, with the city recording the highest rate receiving 20 points, and all other cities scored proportionally. We then summed the five factor scores to create a crash score ranging from zero to 100,” explained the report. Waterbury scored the highest, with a score of 80.46. Some Waterbury residents told NBC Connecticut they agree with the ranking. “100 percent agree with it,” said Gary Markelon of Waterbury. “It seems like they are,” said Terrence, a Waterbury resident. “It’s crazy, Waterbury’s crazy,” said Richard Nieves of Waterbury. While filming in the city, NBC Connecticut observed a driver run a red light, another make a three-point turn in the middle of East Main St., and a rear-end crash. “It’s a shame Waterbury is number one for that,” said Karen, a Waterbury resident. “They always be running the red lights, trying to hit the pedestrians. They hit them and keep going. Some of them die.” “I know a couple of people who have been hit by cars,” Markelon said. Sgt. Joseph Morais of the Waterbury Police Department said drivers can help improve safety by taking extra time and using rideshare services if they have consumed alcohol or other intoxicating substances. Morais said the department has heavy DUI enforcement and that the city is installing 19 speed and red-light cameras in particularly troublesome locations to help curb dangerous driving behavior. “We are hoping that these cameras will kind of slow down drivers and make drivers really stop at the red lights and double-think before driving recklessly,” Morais said. The report ranked Memphis, Tennessee, as the second-worst city for drivers. Hartford ranked No. 46. ...read more read less