Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
SOMERVILLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Two communities north of Boston are safer to navigate than others, according to a new study.
In Smart Assets’ “America's Safest Suburbs 2025 Study,” Lexington and Somerville were tied at first for having the lowest traffic deaths per 100,000 people.
"It's always surprising to hear that in places that have so much traffic and trains and buses and cars," said Maria in Somerville. "There's also a lot of pedestrian traffic in this area, and bikes,” said added. “So, it's a complex environment.”
Experts say the cities and towns with low traffic fatalities benefit from stop-and-go traffic patterns that inherently force drivers to slow down.
Speed is a critical factor in accident severity.
“I think the downtown areas of both Somerville and Lexington are so dense, it prevents cars from going so fast,” said Sean Kramer, a Davis Square resident.
According to the study, both Somerville and Lexington have 4 traffic deaths per 100,00 people.
By comparison, median traffic deaths across 360 suburbs were 10.8 per 100,000 residents.
WBZ NewsRadio's (@jamesrojas.bsky.social) reports.