The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

2nd Annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report" Reveals Cities with Safest Drivers

NORTHBROOK, Ill.--May 24, 2006--Residents of Sioux Falls, S.D., are the safest drivers in the United States, according to the second-annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report."

The largest city in South Dakota moves up from the number two spot on last year's report from Allstate Insurance Company - replacing Cedar Rapids, Iowa, whose drivers are parked in the number three position on this year's list.

This ranking of the best drivers in the 200 largest cities in America revealed that the average driver in Sioux Falls will experience an auto collision every 14.3 years, compared to the national likelihood of a crash every 10 years - making them 30 percent less likely to have an accident than the national average.

Allstate researchers analyzed company claim data to determine the likelihood drivers in America's 200 largest cities would experience a vehicle collision compared to the national average.

"The Allstate America's Best Driver's Report elevates the country's discussion on safe driving. Our hope is that each year the Allstate report helps facilitate an ongoing dialogue that saves lives," said George Ruebenson, Allstate senior vice president for claims service.

"We reward safe drivers everyday with Allstate(R) Your Choice Auto Insurance features such as Safe Driver Bonuses and Deductible Rewards. The Allstate America's Best Driver's report is yet another way Allstate is recognizing safe drivers and the communities where they live."

City officials in Sioux Falls are excited, but not surprised they are the home of Allstate's America's Best Drivers for 2006.

"With so many crashes occurring near one's home, it's reassuring that our residents are the safest on the road," said Dave Munson, mayor of Sioux Falls. "The quality of our community driver education programs combined with the consideration of our traffic engineering department goes a long way to make our roadways safe for everyone. We were excited to be number two on last year's list, but are thrilled to be the best in the country this year."

The Top 10

Sioux Falls drivers jumped to the number one spot in this year's report. However, Iowa, Tennessee and Colorado stand out as also being home to some of the country's safest drivers. Two cities from each state drive into the top 10 on Allstate's list -- similar to the inaugural report findings in 2005. Midwestern drivers also appear to heed the safety call. Five out of the 10 top cities are in America's heartland, according to the report.

       Rank/City           Collision Likelihood      Average Years
                           Compared to National    Between Collisions
                                  Average
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Sioux Falls, S.D.        30.2% less likely          14.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   Fort Collins, Colo.      24.0% less likely          13.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   Cedar Rapids, Iowa       24.0% less likely          13.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   Huntsville, Ala.         21.6% less likely          12.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------
5.   Chattanooga, Tenn.       21.2% less likely          12.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------
6.   Knoxville, Tenn.         20.7% less likely          12.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------
7.   Des Moines, Iowa         20.6% less likely          12.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------
8.   Milwaukee                20.0% less likely          12.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------
9.   Colorado Springs,        19.0% less likely          12.3
      Colo.                                                  
----------------------------------------------------------------------
10.  Warren, Mich.            18.9% less likely          12.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------

"What makes this report from Allstate valuable is that it is based on real world collision data from actual drivers," said Allan Williams, the recently retired chief scientist and researcher at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "Also, Allstate's auto policies represent about 12 percent of the U.S. population, making this report a realistic snapshot of what's happening on America's roadways."

2006 "Road Scholars" By Population

Cities with More Than 1 Million Residents...

For the second consecutive year, drivers in Phoenix are the safest big city commuters according to Allstate. Drivers in Phoenix can expect to bump into another vehicle on the roadway every 9.7 years - slightly more frequent than the national average. A big apple a day apparently keeps the insurance adjuster away in New York. NYC moves to number three on Allstate's breakout list of cities with populations greater than 1 million people.

       Rank/City           Collision Likelihood      Average Years
                           Compared to National    Between Collisions
                                 Average
----------------------------------------------------------------------
75.  Phoenix                   3.6% more likely           9.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------
113. San Diego                11.9% more likely           8.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------
139. New York City            18.6% more likely           8.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
160. San Antonio              24.6% more likely           8.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------
163. Houston                  25.5% more likely           8.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------
178. Chicago                  33.0% more likely           7.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------
183. Dallas                   37.2% more likely           7.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
184. Los Angeles              42.9% more likely           7.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------
186. Philadelphia             51.0% more likely           6.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Cities with 500,000 to 1 Million Residents...

Milwaukee drivers topped the list of safest drivers in mid-sized cities with populations between 500,000 to 1,000,000 residents. While this is the second year that the Wisconsin city has claimed this honor, Milwaukee drivers showed definite driving improvement by moving into this year's overall top 10 ranking as well. Drivers in nine of the top 10 cities in this break-out list for mid-sized cities are less likely than the national average to experience a collision.

       Rank/City           Collision Likelihood      Average Years
                           Compared to National    Between Collisions
                                 Average
----------------------------------------------------------------------
8.   Milwaukee                20.0% less likely          12.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------
31.  Memphis, Tenn.            8.3% less likely          10.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------
35.  Nashville, Tenn.          7.4% less likely          10.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------
37.  Louisville, Ky.           6.9% less likely          10.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------
39.  Denver                    6.5% less likely          10.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------
47.  El Paso, Texas            4.2% less likely          10.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
48.  Detroit                   3.5% less likely          10.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
50.  Indianapolis              3.0% less likely          10.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
58.  Oklahoma City             1.3% less likely          10.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
63.  Tucson, Ariz.             0.2% more likely          10
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Safe Driving Secrets

"Many factors contribute to how cities rank in the report," says Williams. "Some factors - demographic makeup, commuting patterns and city design - cannot be changed; others, like smart traffic engineering and strong law enforcement initiatives, can help to prevent crashes in metropolitan areas."

"Sioux Falls' number one ranking does not come as a surprise to me. We are fortunate to live in a community where courtesy and patience are second nature; this shows through with our drivers," said Sioux Falls Police Chief Doug Barthel.

Allstate recommends some additional safe driving secrets...

-- Green means go, with caution - When a light turns green, make sure the intersection is clear before you go.

-- Avoid disastrous distractions - Safe driving takes concentration. If you're talking on a cell phone or changing the radio station, you're probably not paying enough attention to the road in front of you.

-- Know your limits - Exceeding the speed limit is one of the most common causes of accidents because it gives you less time to stop or react.

-- Signals for safety - Using your turn signal alerts the cars behind you to what you're doing and gives them time to react.

-- Maintenance matters - Ultimately, your safety also depends on the maintenance of your car. Make sure your car's brakes, exhaust system, tires, lights, battery and hoses are in good working order.

Crashes Happen

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

Free Gas Frenzy

Drivers were lined up before dawn in Sioux Falls for the chance to get free gas compliments of Allstate Insurance Company. The mayor of Sioux Falls and other city officials joined local Allstate agents to pump petrol for happy morning commuters - delivering some unexpected relief from near-record high gas prices. The event congratulates drivers in South Dakota's largest city for being the best in the country according to the 2006 Allstate America's Best Drivers Report.

Allstate Safety Leadership Award

The City of Sioux Falls will also be presented with the Allstate Safety Leadership Award. Later this summer, Allstate will honor motorists in the city by presenting Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson with the Allstate Safety Leadership award as recognition for the safe driving habits of the city's residents.

The Math Behind the Rankings

To create the report, Allstate researchers analyzed internal Property Damage reported claims over a two-year period (from January, 2003 to December, 2004) to ensure the findings would not be affected 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.

Safety Can Save Money

Allstate is recognizing Sioux Falls with a celebratory free gas giveaway today. It is also rewarding safe drivers across the country with Allstate (R)Your Choice Auto Insurance. Allstate(R) Your Choice Auto Insurance rewards safe driving through optional features such as Safe Driver Bonuses where you can get cash off your renewal bill and Deductible Rewards where you earn $100 off your deductible up to $500 for each year of safe driving. And for those not able to stay out of harm's way, Your Choice Auto provides enhanced protection through Accident Forgiveness where your rates don't go up just because of an accident and New Car Replacement where you can get a new car if you total your car in the first three years. Your Choice Auto is not available in every state, but is currently available in 41 states representing 82 percent of the U.S. population.(1)

To view the complete 2006 Allstate America's Best Drivers Report listing to see previous year's results, log onto www.allstate.com.

Now celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of Allstate Insurance Company, The Allstate Corporation is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate(R)" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,100 exclusive agencies and financial professionals in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate(R). Encompass(SM) and Deerbrook(R) Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.

Note: The Allstate data excludes cities in the state of Massachusetts, where Allstate Insurance Company does not offer insurance products.

(1) Features are optional and subject to terms and conditions. Not available in every state. Deductible Rewards apply to collision coverage. In PA & NY deductible amount won't go below $100. Safe Driving Bonus won't apply after an accident.