NU Online News Service, July 9, 1:46 p.m. EDT
Washington, the national center for lawmaking, has the most dangerous or lawless drivers according to the latest findings from Allstate.
Based on the insurer's data, the 2009 "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report," which puts Sioux Falls, S.D. in first place, lists Washington dead last in 193rd place.
The study found the likelihood of a collision in the capital compared to the national average is 95.4 percent with the average years between collisions for Washington drivers at 5.1.
Meanwhile, the nearby Washington suburb of Alexandria, Va., was listed by Allstate as "America's Most Improved Driving City" with the average driver there having a crash every 7.2 years an improvement of 1.8 since 2005.
Alexandria is in 174th place among Allstate's best driver rankings. In a statement, the insurer said city officials there are "proud to be recognized for their progress in driving safety, but realize there is still room for more improvements and continue working with residents to help make roads even safer."
An Allstate spokesperson Krissy Posey said it is the fifth year of the report and that for all of them Washington has been last or next to last. The figure for average number of years between crashes there since 2005 has worsened by minus 0.1, the company found.
She said the company could not say what might be the cause of Washington's low ranking and suggested contacting city officials. Erica Stanley, a spokesperson for the office of Mayor Adrian Fenty, said there could be no comment because "we don't know what criteria was used" by Allstate to make its findings.
Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille, said his city is pleased to be recognized and will "continue to encourage Alexandria drivers to be safe and smart behind the wheel, hopefully ensuring that accidents rates will remain low."
Sioux Falls, which has been in first or second place since Allstate has been issuing the report, had a collision rate compared to the national average of minus 26.1 percent, average years between collisions was 13.5 an improvement of minus 0.3 since 2005.
With Sioux Falls at the top of the five best rated cities, the list continues: Fort Collins, Colo.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Knoxville, Tenn. All five have population of fewer than 200,000.
The D.C area rated by Allstate has an estimated population of 588,292, the company said.
In the bottom five with Washington were Baltimore, 192; Glendale, Calif., 191; Hartford, Conn., 190 and Newark, N.J., 189.
Allstate data excludes all cities in Massachusetts as well as West Valley, Utah; Coral Springs, Fla.; Lakewood, Colo; and Pembroke Pines, Fla.
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