Planning to stay a few days in Houston. Would a hotel near the Galleria or Midtown park be safer or have less traffic?

Deciding on where to go and see conflicting answers on different websites. My main concern is safety when going out and possible traffic if I am to go out with people or rent a car to drive around. Heard midtown has a mix of good and bad due to gentrification and Galleria is mostly consistent. If I am looking for quality hotels/airbnb, safety and traffic which area should I stay at?