Over the years, the criminal element has penetrated various metropolises in California and Washington, giving the western U.S. the dubious distinction of being a hotbed for automotive theft and fraud. So it may come as a surprise that one Colorado city has earned top honors on this year's "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report."
To compile the annual report, Allstate actuaries conduct an in-depth analysis of claims data for the 200 largest U.S. cities in order to identify where drivers are presumably the safest, or rather the least likely to become involved in an auto collision. The actuaries examined internal property damage over a two-year period (from January 2010 to December 2011) to ensure the findings would not be impacted by external influences such as weather or road construction.
"[This report] was created to boost awareness about the importance of being safe and attentive behind the wheel, while providing drivers with tips and resources to improve their driving skills," explains Mike Roche, senior vice president of claims at Allstate.
For the ninth iteration, Allstate found drivers navigating the roads of Fort Collins, Colorado could indeed be the safest. The insurer says its research indicates the average driver in Fort Collins will experience an auto collision every 13.9 years, which is 28.2-percent less likely than the national average of 10 years. Placing second for safety was Boise, Idaho, where drivers are about 28-percent less likely to be involved in a collision.
This is the third time the mid-sized college town, which is home to multiple breweries and a community of avid bicyclists, has topped Allstate's list of U.S. driving havens. In fact, Fort Collins has placed in the top 10 every year since the report's inception.
Drivers in Sioux Falls, South Dakota fare slightly better than most, as they are 21.8 percent less likely (than the national average) to be involved in a wreck every 12.8 years. To view the remaining eight cities, advance to the next page.
Accident Severity
According to the most recent report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crash fatalities increased by more than 1,700 from 2011 to 2012, the first year-to-year increase in fatalities since 2005. While fatalities have increased over the past year, Allstate research found that 70 percent of vehicles involved in auto claims are considered drivable, which indicates that most claims are the result of low speed (under 35 miles per hour) collisions.
"[We have] found the most frequent collisions happen during minor fender-benders, but it's important to keep in mind that even lower-speed accidents can have serious outcomes," adds Roche.
Allstate's 10 Safest U.S. Cities for Drivers
| City & Overall Ranking | Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average | Average Years Between Collisions |
| 1. Fort Collins, Colo. | 28.2% less likely | 13.9 |
| 2. Boise, Idaho | 28.0% less likely | 13.9 |
| 3. Sioux Falls, S.D. | 21.8% less likely | 12.8 |
| 4. Brownsville, Texas | 21.1% less likely | 12.7 |
| 5. Madison, Wis. | 20.3% less likely | 12.5 |
| 6. Reno, Nev. | 20.2% less likely | 12.5 |
| 7. Huntsville, Ala. | 20.1% less likely | 12.5 |
| 8. Visalia, Calif. | 18.5% less likely | 12.3 |
| 9. Montgomery, Ala. | 16.3% less likely | 11.9 |
| 10. Eugene, Ore. | 16.2% less likely | 11.9 |
To access a more comprehensive version of the report, click here.
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