Finding America’s best and worst drivers

If you’re looking for highway nirvana, stay away from a big city on either coast

One might think the crowded streets of New York City, with maniacal taxicab operators and delivery people and overly aggressive motorists might be home to the worst drivers in the U.S. You would be wrong, as the “Big Apple” is only rated at number 107 in the nation out of the 200 largest cities in this year’s Best Drivers Report conducted by Allstate Insurance in Northbrook, Illinois.

That dubious distinction goes instead to Baltimore, Maryland. Motorists in the “Charm City” get into a crash, on average, once every 3.8 years. That’s 163 percent more likely than the national frequency rate, which is once every 10 years. And Baltimore drivers apparently have nobody to blame for this rock-bottom ranking than themselves. That’s because 94 percent of all traffic accidents are caused by driver error, according to Allstate.

The best motorists, as logic would dictate, reside in smaller towns with less hustle and bustle. Allstate’s survey found bucolic Brownsville, Texas to be home to the safest drivers in the country. Motorists there get into crashes only once every 13.6 years, which is 26.3 percent below the national average.

Allstate defines a crash as any auto collision that results in a property damage claim. Rankings are based on claims reported during a two-year period that extended between January 2015 and December 2016. We’re featuring the 10 cities having the most and least accident-prone drivers in the accompanying box.

Apparently, motorists living along either coast are the most highly strung in the country. Among the 10 cities cited for having accident-prone drivers, eight are in eastern seaboard states, with the remaining two located in California. The cities with the safest drivers tend to be lower-population burgs that are largely in southern and Midwestern states.

Among the winners and losers in Allstate’s 2018 report, Miami motorists are the most improved in the U.S., with the city jumping 37 spots up the list and landing at number 86, with an 8.5-year accident frequency. At the other end of the spectrum, you might want to steer clear of Spokane, Washington, which dropped 37 spots in Allstate’s list from

2017’s rankings after already suffering a 12-spot plunge the year before.

No matter where you live, Allstate cautions drivers to be extra vigilant to avoid getting into crashes. That means being alert at all times to the

unpredictable nature of other traffic, along with pedestrians and bicyclists that may cross your path. Obey all speed limits, maintain a sufficient distance between your vehicle and traffic ahead and allow plenty of time to arrive at your destination safely. And be sure to keep your phone and other devices tucked away to avoid distractions.