Best Drivers Report Ranks Safety of 200 Cities

Allstate Insurance Co. released its 10th annual “Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report,” with Ft. Collins, Colo., identified as having the safest drivers.

The report, based on Allstate claims data, ranks America’s 200 largest cities in terms of car collision frequency. This year, new data uncovers how these cities rank when factors such as population, population density and precipitation are considered.

Ft. Collins drew the top honor for the fourth year in the report’s history. The city has placed in the top 10 every year since the report’s inception. This year, the results indicate the average driver in Ft. Collins will experience an auto collision every 14.2 years, which is 29.6 percent less likely than the national average of every 10 years, Allstate said.

For the past 10 years, Allstate actuaries have conducted an in-depth analysis of company claims data to determine the likelihood drivers in America’s 200 largest cities will experience a vehicle collision compared to the national average. Reported claims of property damage were analyzed over a two-year period, from January 2011 to December 2012.

A weighted average of the two-year numbers determines the annual percentages. The report defines an auto crash as any collision resulting in a property damage claim. Allstate’s auto policies represent nearly 10 percent of all U.S. auto policies. As a result, the report offers "a realistic snapshot of what’s happening on America’s roadways," the company said.

For the first time in the report’s 10-year history, Allstate’s interactive mapping tool demonstrates how location factors such as population, population density and precipitation weight a city’s driving safety ranking. When taking challenging roadway conditions into consideration, the ranking of some cities changed based on the likelihood for collision and these location factors.

To view the complete Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report with these new rankings, or to see previous years’ results, go to www.allstate.com/bestdriversreport.  

For each of the location factors Allstate measured in this year’s report, the insurer recommends drivers use caution – especially when driving under these conditions:

 Highly populated cities



• Know what’s happening in the city during the time you’re driving. Find out if there are events that may impact traffic, and listen to traffic reports on your car radio. Avoid traffic jams or explore alternative routes, if possible.
• Get directions to where you’re going. Review directions carefully in advance. If you get lost mid-trip, safely pull over and wait until you feel calm enough to get back on the road, using that time to get directions, check traffic or call for help.

Densely populated cities

• Allow plenty of time to reach your destination. Stop-and-go traffic, gridlock, traffic signal stops, pedestrian walkways and events that create traffic detours can add time to your travel.
• Stay alert. Be prepared to frequently stop or slow down for pedestrians, emergency vehicles, delivery trucks, parking cars, taxi cabs, and public transportation vehicles such as city buses.

Cities with high levels of precipitation

• Be aware of road conditions. Ice, snow, fog, rain – all of these weather conditions require extra caution and slower speeds. Stopping safely in rain and snow takes greater lengths of roadway than in dry conditions.
• Maintain your vehicle to prepare for extreme weather. Headlights and brake lights are critical in low visibility situations – be sure they are consistently maintained along with other critical car functions such as brakes and windshield wipers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 33,500 car crash fatalities occurred in 2012. Additionally, Allstate research found that 70 percent of vehicles involved in auto claims are considered drivable, which indicates that most claims are the result of low-speed (under 35 miles per hour) collisions.