Average automobile insurance rates for cities with safest drivers

Average automobile insurance rates for cities with safest drivers

A new report says that Fort Collins, Colo., city, Texas, and Boise, Idaho, high the list of cities which will brag regarding having the safest drivers.

The annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report," currently in its tenth year, is predicated on associate degree analysis of accident claims to see however usually crashes occurred within the two hundred largest U.S. railway system areas, per electro-acoustic transducer Roche, Allstate's senior vice chairman of claims.

"Our actuaries reviewed millions of records to develop this year's report, which presents new data to equip (motorists) with better driving awareness tools," Roche said in a written statement. "Allstate is showing drivers that factors like population, a city's density and precipitation may contribute to their driving safety."

The report notes that Fort Collins was the safest driving city for the fourth time, which is unprecedented. Many factors go into setting your car insurance rate, including your driving record, the type of car you drive and where you live. Here are the top 10 cities for safe drivers, with crash data and average car insurance rates for one ZIP code in each. Use our average car insurance rates tool to find the data for your ZIP code if it's not listed:


Cities with the safest drivers

City & Overall Ranking

Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average

Average Years Between Collisions

Average car insurance rate* (See foot note for methodology)

1. Fort Collins, Colo.

29.6% less likely

14.2

ZIP 80521; $922

2. Brownsville, Texas

29.5% less likely

14.2

ZIP 78521; $1,452

3. Boise, Idaho

28.4% less likely

14

ZIP 83716; $834

4. Kansas City, Kan.

22.4% less likely

12.9

ZIP 66103; $1,423

5. Huntsville, Ala.

20.3% less likely

12.6

ZIP 35816; $1,295

6. Montgomery, Ala.

19.4% less likely

12.4

ZIP 36104; $1,442

7. Visalia, Calif.

19.1% less likely

12.4

ZIP 93291; $1,334

8. Laredo, Texas

18.3% less likely

12.2

ZIP78040; $1,347

9. Madison, Wis.

17.8% less likely

12.2

ZIP 53705; $886

10. Olathe, Kan.

17.5% less likely

12.1

ZIP 66062; $1,110

And the worst city? That would be Worcester, Mass., where 4.3 years is the average time between accidents, according to Allstate.

As for larger cities, Chicago came in at 139, New York City at 155, Houston at 158, Los Angeles at 188, San Francisco at 190, Philadelphia at 192 and Washington, D.C., at 198.

Where you live affects driving

The report further notes that driving conditions differ from bigger cities to smaller ones and suburban areas for many reasons, including the amount and types of traffic, distracting noise and activity, as well as varying road conditions and laws. With that in mind, Allstate has suggestions for different areas:

Cities with lots of people (starting with places like Fort Collins and Brownsville)

Know what's going on in the city during your drive. Are there any events that may affect where you're driving? Also, listen to radio traffic reports and, of course, try to avoid traffic jams. Explore alternative routes.
Get directions beforehand. Review directions carefully before heading out. "If you get lost mid-trip, safely pull over and wait until you feel calm enough to get back on the road, using that time to get directions, check traffic or call for help," the report advises.
Cities with lots and lots of people (think Los Angeles and New York City at the top of the range)

Allow extra time for the trip. Stop-and-go traffic, gridlock, traffic signal stops, pedestrian walkways and events that create traffic detours are common in the most populated cities and can increase travel time.
Be alert. Motorists should be ready to frequently stop or slow down for pedestrians, emergency vehicles, delivery trucks, parking cars, taxi cabs and city buses.
Rainy cities (such as New Orleans, Miami and Portland)

Be aware of road conditions. Ice, snow, fog and rain all require extra caution and slower speeds. "Stopping safely in rain and snow takes greater lengths of roadway than in dry conditions," the report says.
Extreme weather demands a well-maintained car. Headlights and brake lights are critical in low visibility situations - keep them in good working order, along with the brakes and windshield wipers.
Better motoring and car insurance

Safe driving, besides protecting you and those around you, is also cheered by insurers because fewer accidents mean fewer repair and medical claims. Crashes and moving violations will push up premiums, but a clean driving record for a certain number of years -- typically three -- should snag a discount.

Also, standard safety features on a vehicle -- including anti-lock brakes and air bags -- will probably get you a price break on the premium.