Benefits July 2, 2008

Non-Collision Course: Head for the Midwest

July 2, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - According to the fourth annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report, the average driver in the safest driving city in the nation experiences an auto collision every 14.6 years.
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That safest driver city is, once again – Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Holding fast to the number two spot for the third consecutive year is Fort Collins, Colorado – a place where motorists, on average, experience a car collision every 13.4 years.

For the past four years, Allstate actuaries have conducted an in-depth analysis of company claim data (1) 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% of all U.S. auto policies).

Drivers from Sioux Falls not only maintained their status as the safest city in this year’s report, they also stretched out the average years between collisions from 13.7 in last year’s report to 14.6 (see Fender Benders Still Rare in Sioux Falls ). Allstate notes that this year’s report includes four cities, including three from Michigan, who have found a spot on the top 10 list for the first time in the history of the report. In fact, half of the 10 top cities are in America’s heartland, according to the report.

Rank/City
Collision Likelihood
Compared to National
Average
Average Years
Between Collisions
1. Sioux Falls, S.D.
31.6% less likely
14.6
2. Fort Collins, Colo.
25.5% less likely
13.4
3. Chattanooga, Tenn.
25.1% less likely
13.3
4. Sterling Heights, Mich.
24.4% less likely
13.2
5. Warren, Mich.
24.0% less likely
13.2
6. Knoxville, Tenn.
23.4% less likely
13.1
7. Grand Rapids, Mich.
22.7% less likely
12.9
8. Cedar Rapids, IA
22.3% less likely
12.9
9. Lexington, Ky.
22.0% less likely
12.8
10. Detroit, Mich.
19.5% less likely
12.4

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.

(1) To create the report, Allstate researchers analyzed internal property damage reported claims over a two-year period (from January 2005 to December 2006) to ensure the findings would not be impacted by external influences such as weather or road construction. A weighted average of the two-year numbers determined the annual percentages. The report defines an auto crash as any collision resulting in a property damage claim.

For the fourth consecutive year, drivers in Phoenix, Arizona 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
Collision Likelihood
Compared to National
Average
Average Years
Between Collisions
84. Phoenix, Ariz.
1.5% more likely
9.8
112. San Diego, Calif.
9.9% more likely
9.1
126. New York, N.Y.
13.2% more likely
8.8
153. Houston, TX
23.5% more likely
8.1
161. San Antonio, TX
25.7% more likely
8.0
167. Dallas, TX
27.6% more likely
7.8
176. Chicago, Ill.
32.3% more likely
7.6
182. Los Angeles, Calif.
41.5% more likely
7.1
187. Philadelphia, Pa.
50.4% more likely
6.6

Mid-Sized Citings

Meanwhile, Motown drivers 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
Collision Likelihood
Compared to National
Average
Average Years
Between Collisions
10. Detroit, Mich.
19.5 less likely
12.4
25. Milwaukee, Wis.
15.0 less likely
11.8
30. Louisville, Ky.
12.2 less likely
11.4
33. Nashville, Tenn.
10.0 less likely
11.1
39. Tucson, Ariz.
9.3 less likely
11.0
44. Memphis, Tenn.
8.6 less likely
10.9
48. Denver, Colo.
6.6 less likely
10.7
54. Oklahoma City, Okla.
4.9 less likely
10.5
60. Indianapolis, Ind.
3.6 less likely
10.4
67. El Paso, TX
2.2 less likely
10.2

To add to (what it surely hopes will be) the country's interest of comparing male vs. female, pre-baby boomer vs. boomer, generation X vs. generation Y, this year Allstate's Best Drivers report delivers a new category and recognizes the safest cities based on gender and generation.

Tucson, Arizona received top honors as the safest city for males, females, pre-baby boomers, baby boomers and Gen X. El Paso, Texas was cited as the safest city for Gen Y drivers, according to Allstate's data.

Males
Females
City
Average
Years
Between
Collisions
City
Average
Years
Between
Collisions
1. Tucson, Ariz.
11.8
1. Tucson, Ariz.
10.1
2. El Paso, TX
10.6
2. El Paso, TX
9.5
3. Salt Lake City, UT
10.0
3. Jacksonville, Fla.
9.2
4. Jacksonville, Fla.
10.0
4. Salt Lake City, UT
9.1
5. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
9.7
5. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
8.8
6. Fort Worth, TX
9.2
6. Fort Worth, TX
8.8
7. San Diego, Calif.
8.9
7. San Diego, Calif.
8.7
8. New York, N.Y.
8.9
8. New York, N.Y.
8.6
9. San Jose, Calif.
8.5
9. Charlotte, N.C.
8.3
10. Charlotte, N.C.
8.4
10. San Jose, Calif.
8.2

Pre Baby Boomers
Baby Boomers
City
Average
Years
Between
Collisions
City
Average
Years
Between
Collisions
1. Tucson, Ariz.
11.9
1. Tucson, Ariz.
12.2
2. Salt Lake City, UT
11.9
2. Jacksonville, Fla.
11.0
3. El Paso, TX
11.8
3. Salt Lake City, UT
10.8
4. Charlotte, N.C.
11.0
4. El Paso, TX
10.4
5. San Diego, Calif.
10.9
5. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
10.3
6. Jacksonville, Fla.
10.9
6. Fort Worth, TX
10.1
7. Fort Worth, TX
10.8
7. Charlotte, N.C.
9.8
8. San Jose, Calif.
10.7
8. San Diego, Calif.
9.8
9. Orlando, Fla.
9.7
9. Orlando, Fla.
9.1
10. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
9.6
10. New York, N.Y.
9.0

Generation X
Generation Y
City
Average
Years
Between
Collisions
City
Average
Years
Between
Collisions
1. Tucson, Ariz.
11.2
1. El Paso, TX
7.5
2. El Paso, TX
10.5
2. Tucson, Ariz.
7.0
3. Salt Lake City, UT
9.7
3. Salt Lake City, UT
6.9
4. Jacksonville, Fla.
9.6
4. New York, N.Y.
6.6
5. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
9.3
5. San Diego, Calif.
6.3
6. Fort Worth, TX
9.1
6. San Jose, Calif.
6.2
7. San Diego, Calif.
8.8
7. Jacksonville, Fla.
6.2
8. New York, N.Y.
8.7
8. Fort Worth, TX
6.0
9. San Jose, Calif.
8.5
9. Chicago, Ill.
5.8
10. Orlando, Fla.
8.5
10. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
5.8

To view the "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report" in its entirety or to see previous year's results, log onto www.allstate.com .

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