Here's Where Allstate Says You'll Find The Best And Worst Drivers In The Nation
Back in junior-year high-school driver's-ed classes we were all taught the merits of defensive driving. The concept centers on anticipating potential hazards, adapting to changing road conditions and preventing accidents by being on the alert for drivers who make mistakes or act unpredictably.
Those living in the Northeastern states should heed the latter caution tenaciously, since that's where Allstate Insurance's latest America's Best Drivers Report indicates the worst drivers among the top 200 cities in the U.S. call home. Boston, with its narrower byways and older infrastructure, tops the list of the most accident-prone metro areas overall, with drivers being involved in a crash at an average of once every 3.07 years. According to Allstate claims data, the average driver in the U.S will experience a collision once every 10.56 years.
However, don't necessarily count out those living on the West Coast as being necessarily more-mellow in this regard, with California placing no fewer than three major cities among the 10 burgs having the most crash-prone motorists. Perhaps they're too mellow?
Texas residents, particularly those living in Brownsville and surrounded by wide-open spaces, were found to be the safest in the nation, with residents of the Laredo, McAllen and Corpus Christi regions likewise landing near the top of the most-cautious side of the ledger.
Allstate's data also shows that the Midwest, typically known for its even-keeled denizens, is becoming more hazardous, with drivers dwelling in several metro areas racking up a higher rate of accidents than in previous years' reports. As examples, St. Louis MO dropped by 89 places in the list for 2025, and Kansas City, MO fell by a comparable 84 spots.
On the other hand, the report shows that drivers in cities like Portland, OR and Seattle and Belleview, WA have shown some of the most significant reductions in vehicle crashes since Allstate's last Best Drivers report was issued. That alone should make the Great Northwest a great destination for those looking for take both a safe and scenic road trip this summer.
As for the 'usual suspects,' i.e. U.S. cities known for having the nation's most-deficient drivers, Los Angeles, CA ranks at number 194 out of 200; San Francisco, CA at 178; Chicago, IL at 156; Detroit, MI at 142; and New York, NY at 140.
Allstate's America's Safe Drivers Report is being issued at the height of vacation season as a courtesy to road-trippers, and ranks the nation's top 200 metropolitan areas according to the average collision frequencies of their residents. Rankings are based on property and collision damage claims reported to the insurer between January 2022 and December 2023.
We're featuring the lists of metro areas in which Allstate data says have the nation's best and drivers (along with the average frequency of collisions) in the accompanying box; you can find the full report on Allstate's website, allstate.com.
Short of steering clear of or moving away from any of the cities deemed having the most dangerous drivers, experts suggest following these time-honored defensive driving tips:
Stay Alert and Focused: Keep your attention on the road, mirrors, and surroundings and avoid distractions like calling, texting or eating while behind the wheel.
Expect the Unexpected. Assume other drivers will act badly when it's least expected, possibly running red lights, switching lanes suddenly or making a sudden stop.
Stick to the Speed Limit: Getting somewhere a few minutes quicker may not be worth exceeding the limit, at the risk of getting into an accident or being issued a costly moving violation.
Maintain a Safe Following Distance. No matter how well your car's brakes may perform, use the 'three-second rule' to maintain ample space from the vehicle ahead (leave three Mississippis worth of space when the car in front passes a fixed point) to leave enough time to react and brake safely if necessary. Add a few Mississippis when driving over slick or snowy roads.
Adjust for Weather and Traffic Conditions. Likewise, maintain a more leisurely pace in rain, fog, snow or heavy traffic.
The Best:
The Worst:
Source: Allstate's America's Best Drivers Report 2025.
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