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Allstate's best drivers report

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® 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.

“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.

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.

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.