Where are the nation's safest (and riskiest) drivers? (USA Today)
Shift into Safe News
Texas leads the nation with four cities among the nation's top 20 safest for driving, while Boston is the most collision-prone, according to a new Allstate report.
USA TODAY had an exclusive look at the Allstate annual report, now in its 17th year. The report analyzes collision data from the insurer to rank the safest and riskiest cities for drivers across the nation. The results of the report do not affect insurance rates, Allstate said.
“We do this report to shed light on driving safety trends across the country to really educate drivers and we look to hopefully inspire safer driving habits,” Sandee Lindorfer, Allstate vice president of auto claims, told USA TODAY. "At the end of the day, we want to save lives."
This year, Allstate analyzed property or collision damage claims for a two-year period in 2022 and 2023 and compared the results to data published a decade ago to see if there were shifts in driving safety across the country.
What are the top 10 safest cities?
The top 10 safest cities, according to Allstate data, are:
- Brownsville, Texas
- Boise, Idaho
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Cary, North Carolina
- Laredo, Texas
- Olathe, Kansas
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Port St. Lucie, Florida
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Eugene, Oregon
Texas, with four cities in the top 20, also had McAllen (No. 11) and Corpus Christi (No. 20).
What are the top 10 riskiest cities?
The top 10 riskiest cities (or lowest of the 200 ranked in the U.S.), according to Allstate data, are:
200. Boston
199. Washington, D.C.
198. Baltimore
197. Worcester, Massachusetts
196. Springfield, Massachusetts
195. Glendale, California
194. Los Angeles
193. Oakland, California
192. Providence, Rhode Island
191. Philadelphia
Ways to stay safer on the roads
Here are some tips from Allstate and Lindorfer to stay safer on the roads:
- Stick to the speed limit and drive safely: It sounds simple, but it pays off, said Allstate. Avoiding violations and accidents for several months can earn safe driving discounts.
- Use a safe-driving app: Programs like Allstate's Drivewise, which rewards safe driving habits like safe speeds, gentle braking and staying off your phone, can be helpful, Lindorfer said. Drivers who use the Allstate app are 25% less likely to have a severe collision compared to those who don't use it, she said.
- Consider cars with strong safety features: Cars that come equipped with such features as airbags, anti-lock brakes, advanced driver aids and factory-installed anti-theft systems reduce the risk of accidents and theft, Allstate said.
- Help young drivers be successful: Young drivers under the age of 25 can save money on insurance by completing an approved driver's education program or maintaining good grades.
