Report: Alexandria, Va., Drivers Most Improved
Drivers in Alexandria, Va., are the most improved, in terms of number of auto collisions, according to Northbrook, Ill.-based Allstate Insurance Co., which has released its fifth annual “Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report.” The report ranks America’s 200 largest cities in terms of car collision frequency to identify which cities have the safest drivers according to Allstate data. This year’s report highlights America’s most improved motorists.
According to the report, the average driver in Alexandria will experience an auto collision every 7.2 years, an improvement of 1.8 years since 2005.
“We are thrilled to see cities making progress toward keeping America’s roadways safer,” said Mike Roche, senior vice president, Allstate’s Claim Organization. He noted the Allstate America’s Best Driver’s Report was created to facilitate an ongoing dialogue on safe driving that saves lives.
Auto crashes in general have declined over the last few years, but crash fatalities still average around 40,000 every year despite technological advances according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Human error is the biggest cause of accidents. It is vital for us to educate drivers across the country on the importance of being tolerant and attentive behind the wheel,” Roche said.
For the past five years, the company’s actuaries have conducted an in-depth analysis of company claim data to determine the likelihood drivers in America’s 200 largest cities will experience a vehicle collision compared to the national average. Internal property damage reported claims were analyzed over a two-year period (from January 2006 to December 2007) 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. Allstate’s auto policies represent about 11.3 percent of all U.S. auto policies, making this report a realistic snapshot of what’s happening on America’s roadways.
-Alexandria, Va., topped the most improved chart improving its years between accidents by 1.8 years and climbed from the 194 spot in 2005 to 174 in 2009. Virginia drivers in general appear to observe the safety call. Five out of the top 10 most improved driving cities were in Virginia (Alexandria, Hampton, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Richmond).
-Drivers from Sioux Falls, S.D., maintained their status as the safest driving city in this year’s report for the fourth consecutive year. However, two new cities championed their way into the top ten, Eugene, Ore., and Boise, Idaho.
-Drivers in U.S. cities with populations of 1 million-plus are more likely than the national average to experience a collision. Motorists in Phoenix topped the list in this category, making them the safest big city commuters, the report indicated.
To view the complete “Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report,” or to see previous year’s results, visit www.allstatenewsroom.com.
Source: Allstate