Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities for Drivers in America
Joel Anderson
There’s a simple fact about life that many people choose to ignore year after year: The most dangerous activity that most Americans partake in with any frequency is getting behind the wheel of their car. Some 37,133 people lost their lives in traffic accidents in 2017, which was more than double the number of people killed with a firearm. So, while you might think it’s prudent to comb over violent crime statistics in your home city, the greater danger to your safety is simply driving to and from work every week.
That’s why GOBankingRates compiled a list of the 25 safest — and 25 most dangerous — cities for drivers in America based on Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report 2019. Allstate’s list utilizes a variety of statistics, such as average years between collisions, average hard-braking incidents per 1,000 miles and the likelihood of a collision relative to the United States as a whole. The end result reveals that the danger behind the wheel can vary widely depending on where you live, so it’s smart to find out how you can reduce the chances of a car accident.
Safest US Cities for Drivers
While accidents are often as random as they are chaotic, these 25 cities offer a consistently safer environment for drivers. Here are two overall statistics that will help you put all the data points in context: The national average for years between collisions is 10.57, and the average number of hard-braking events per 1,000 miles driven is 19.
25. Reno, Nevada
Average years between collisions: 11.26
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -6.1%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 21.9
24. Wichita, Kansas
Average years between collisions: 11.32
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -6.6%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 16.91
23. Montgomery, Alabama
Average years between collisions: 11.42
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -7.4%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 24.31
22. Springfield, Missouri
Average years between collisions: 11.46
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -7.7%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 18.96
21. Lincoln, Nebraska
Average years between collisions: 11.46
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -7.7%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 17.76
20. Amarillo, Texas
Average years between collisions: 11.49
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -7.9%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
19. Knoxville, Tennessee
Average years between collisions: 11.53
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -8.3%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 18.15
18. Corpus Christi, Texas
Average years between collisions: 11.53
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -8.3%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
17. Mobile, Alabama
Average years between collisions: 11.53
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -8.3%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 15.93
16. Mesa, Arizona
Average years between collisions: 11.6
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -8.8%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 22.96
15. Scottsdale, Arizona
Average years between collisions: 11.63
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -9%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 26.13
14. Port St. Lucie, Florida
Average years between collisions: 11.84
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -10.7%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 18.37
13. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Average years between collisions: 12.01
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -12%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 22.06
12. Cary, North Carolina
Average years between collisions: 12.02
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -12%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
11. Madison, Wisconsin
Average years between collisions: 12.18
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -13.2%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 13.4
10. Cape Coral, Florida
Average years between collisions: 12.24
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -13.6%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 20.29
9. McAllen, Texas
Average years between collisions: 12.42
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -14.8%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
8. Overland Park, Kansas
Average years between collisions: 12.44
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -15%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 22.71
7. Fort Collins, Colorado
Average years between collisions: 12.6
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -16.1%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 18.71
6. Olathe, Kansas
Average years between collisions: 12.66
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -16.5%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 19.49
5. Laredo, Texas
Average years between collisions: 13.02
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -18.8%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
4. Kansas City, Kansas
Average years between collisions: 13.21
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -19.9%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 14.44
3. Huntsville, Alabama
Average years between collisions: 13.39
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -21%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 20.08
2. Boise, Idaho
Average years between collisions: 13.65
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -22.6%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 15.63
1. Brownsville, Texas
Average years between collisions: 14.95
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: -29.3%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
Most Dangerous US Cities for Drivers
In these 25 cities, your chances of being injured or killed during your daily commute are much higher compared to the rest of the country. You should be particularly vigilant if you live in California or Massachusetts — those two states can each claim three of the top 10 most dangerous cities for Americans behind the wheel.
25. Anaheim, California
Average years between collisions: 7.1
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 48.9%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
24. New Orleans
Average years between collisions: 7.09
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 49.1%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 19.53
23. Atlanta
Average years between collisions: 7.07
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 49.5%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 32.2
22. Torrance, California
Average years between collisions: 7.07
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 49.5%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
21. Irving, Texas
Average years between collisions: 7.01
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 50.8%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
20. Portland, Oregon
Average years between collisions: 7
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 51.1%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 22.01
19. Sunrise Manor, Nevada
Average years between collisions: 6.93
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 52.6%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 28.35
18. Bridgeport, Connecticut
Average years between collisions: 6.92
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 52.8%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 35.77
17. Fullerton, California
Average years between collisions: 6.9
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 53.3%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
16. Garden Grove, California
Average years between collisions: 6.88
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 53.8%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
15. Hayward, California
Average years between collisions: 6.85
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 54.4%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
14. Pasadena, California
Average years between collisions: 6.84
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 54.7%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
13. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Average years between collisions: 6.82
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 55.1%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 26.6
12. San Francisco
Average years between collisions: 6.8
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 55.6%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
11. Philadelphia
Average years between collisions: 6.33
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 67%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 43.88
10. Oakland, California
Average years between collisions: 6.31
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 67.7%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
9. Alexandria, Virginia
Average years between collisions: 6.22
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 69.9%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 27.48
8. Providence, Rhode Island
Average years between collisions: 6.19
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 70.8%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 26.5
7. Springfield, Massachusetts
Average years between collisions: 5.82
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 81.7%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 23.98
6. Los Angeles
Average years between collisions: 5.81
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 82%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
5. Glendale, California
Average years between collisions: 5.31
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 99%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: N/A
4. Worcester, Massachusetts
Average years between collisions: 5.14
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 105.6%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 26.87
3. Boston
Average years between collisions: 4.89
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 116.5%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 26.12
2. Washington
Average years between collisions: 4.36
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 142.3%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 27.21
1. Baltimore
Average years between collisions: 4.19
Relative collision likelihood vs. national average: 152.5%
Drivewise hard-braking events per 1,000 miles: 30.58
