Which Cities Have the Worst Drivers?

In an age of increasingly distracted drivers, it's getting ever more hazardous to ply America's urban roads. The eighth annual “America’s Best Drivers Report,” issued by Allstate Insurance, explores exactly which cities are the most dangerous.

1 minute read

August 29, 2012, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Whether explained by its large number of non-native residents or, perhaps, its confusing system of roads planned long before the advent of the horseless carriage, Washington D.C. has the dubious distinction of being home to America's most dangerous drivers. 

According to Jim Gorzelany, "Allstate studied the auto insurance claims frequency of America's 200
largest cities and found that residents of our nation's capitol were
found to get into collisions on average once every 4.7 years. This means
they're a whopping 112.1 percent more likely to be party to an accident
than the typical driver in the U.S., who wrecks his or her car once
every 10 years."

"Taken on a state-wide basis, California would seem to have the worst
drivers overall, placing five cities among the top 25, including
Glendale (5), San Francisco (10), Los Angeles (14), Fullerton (16) and
Torrence (22). New Jersey came in a close second with four cities among
the top 25, with Florida and Virginia tied for third with three cities
each."

"Meanwhile, the safest drivers can be found trolling the streets of Sioux
Falls, South Dakota, where the average motorist experiences a collision
only once every 13.8 years, which is 27.6 percent less likely than the
national average. Other top-five safest cities include (in order):
Boise, ID; Fort Collins, CO; Madison, WI and Lincoln, NE."

 

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 in Forbes

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Historic homes in St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs

Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

March 18, 2025 - Newsweek

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands

The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

March 17, 2025 - The Wall Street Journal

Glass building with green tree behind it.

EPA Terminates $116 Million in Grants for Reducing Emissions from Construction Materials

C-MORE grants were earmarked for industry trade groups and universities.

March 27 - Inside Climate News

White BART trains passing each other on elevated track in Fruitvale, California.

BART Closes $35 Million Deficit

Cost control and revenue generation measures prevented service cuts.

March 27 - Mass Transit

Black hearse seen from behind driving on multilane road.

The New Parisian Hearse is a Bicycle

Sleek, silent, and sustainable, a green trip to the graveyard has hit the streets of the French capital.

March 27 - Momentum Magazine