America’s Safest Drivers Travel the Roads in America’s Heartland

Residents in Sioux Falls, S.D., continued to top the chart as the safest drivers in the U.S., according to the fourth annual Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report.

The average driver in Sioux Falls experiences an auto collision every 14.6 years. Compared to the national likelihood of a collision every 10 years – Sioux Falls motorists are 31.6 percent less likely to have an accident than the national average.

Holding fast to the number two spot for the third consecutive year is Fort Collins, Colo. On average, motorists in Fort Collins experience a car collision every 13.4 years.

For the past four years, Allstate actuaries have conducted an analysis of company claim data to determine the likelihood drivers in America’s 200 largest cities will experience a vehicle collision compared to the national average. Allstate’s auto policies represent about 12 percent of all U.S. auto policies, making this report a snapshot of what’s happening on America’s roadways.

Drivers from Sioux Falls maintained their status as the safest city in this year’s report, in addition to increasing their average years between collisions, from 13.7 to 14.6. However, four cities, including three from Michigan, have found a spot on the top 10 list for the first time in the history of the report. Midwestern drivers appear to continue to recognize the importance of driving safely. Half of the 10 top cities are in America’s heartland, according to the report.

The Top 10
Rank/City

1. Sioux Falls, S.D.
2. Fort Collins, Colo.
3. Chattanooga, Tenn.
4. Sterling Heights, Mich.
5. Warren, Mich.
6. Knoxville, Tenn.
7. Grand Rapids, Mich.
8. Cedar Rapids, IA
9. Lexington, Ky.
10. Detroit, Mich.

“I am happy to know that our residents are continuing to drive safely, particularly with the July 4th holiday approaching,” said Dave Munson, mayor of Sioux Falls. “The quality of our community driver education programs, combined with the careful consideration of our traffic engineering department, goes a long way to make our roadways safe for everyone.”

Cities with More Than One Million Residents
For the fourth consecutive year, drivers in Phoenix, Ariz., are the safest big city commuters, according to Allstate. Phoenix motorists can expect to bump into another vehicle on the roadway every 9.8 years – slightly more frequently than the national average.

Rank/City
84. Phoenix, Ariz.
112. San Diego, Calif.
126. New York, N.Y.
153. Houston, TX
161. San Antonio, TX
167. Dallas, TX
176. Chicago, Ill.
182. Los Angeles, Calif.
187. Philadelphia, Pa.

Cities with 500,000 to One Million Residents
Detroit drivers kept their motors roaring safely and topped the list of safest drivers in mid-sized cities with populations between 500,000 to 1,000,000 residents. In addition to making the top 10 list for the first time, drivers in the Motor City increased their average years between collisions to once every 12.4 years. Drivers in all the top 10 cities in this list for mid-sized cities are less likely than the national average to experience a collision.

Rank/City
10. Detroit, Mich.
25. Milwaukee, Wis.
30. Louisville, Ky.
33. Nashville, Tenn.
39. Tucson, Ariz.
44. Memphis, Tenn.
48. Denver, Colo.
54. Oklahoma City, Okla.
60. Indianapolis, Ind.
67. El Paso, TX

Gender and Generation
This year’s report also includes data on male vs. female drivers, and compares drivers in different generations: pre-baby boomer, baby boomers, generation X and generation Y.

Tucson, Ariz. received top honors as the safest city for males, females, pre-baby boomers, baby boomers and Gen X. El Paso, Texas, landed the number one spot as the safest city for Gen Y drivers, according to Allstate’s data.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more fatal crashes occur on Saturdays than any other day of the week. Sunday ranked second and Friday came in third. Additionally, most collisions happen between 6 and 9 p.m. From 3 to 6 p.m. ranked second, and 9 p.m. to midnight finished third. The fewest crashes occur between 3 and 6 a.m.