Allstate's 2026 America's Best Drivers Report Reveals Key Insights
Allstate Insurance has released its 2026 America's Best Drivers Report, which evaluates the 200 largest U.S. cities based on claims data to determine the average years between collisions. Brownsville, Texas, leads the ranking with drivers averaging nearly 15 years between accidents, securing its top position for the second consecutive year. In contrast, Boston drivers experience collisions approximately every 3.76 years, marking the shortest span among major cities analyzed. This disparity underscores the influence of location on accident frequency, affecting repair expenses and insurance premiums.
The report, now in its 18th year, utilizes Allstate property damage claim frequency to rank cities, illustrating the rate at which drivers are involved in incidents impacting other vehicles. The national average stands at one accident every 10.86 years, indicating that Boston drivers face nearly triple the collision likelihood compared to the national norm.
Several cities in Texas and Colorado rank among the safest, with Fort Collins, Colorado, and Laredo, Texas, closely following Brownsville. Other notable mentions in the top ten include McAllen, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Cary, North Carolina; Madison, Wisconsin; Eugene, Oregon; and Olathe, Kansas.
Conversely, seven of the ten riskiest cities are located in the Northeast United States, including Boston, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and areas in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. California's Glendale and Los Angeles, along with Nevada's Sunrise Manor, also appear in the high-risk category.
Rankings have shifted significantly, with Waco, Texas experiencing notable improvement by climbing 40 places. Conversely, Detroit's ranking declined by 38 spots. Shifting traffic patterns and local driving behaviors contribute substantially to these changes.
Allstate's Drivewise tool offers deeper insights by assessing specific driving behaviors, such as speeding and phone use while driving. Speeding is particularly prevalent in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and several cities in Alabama, increasing accident severity. Hard braking is common in areas of Arizona and North Carolina, while phone use remains high in densely populated cities like Miami and Chicago.
Laura Hoffman, Allstate's vice president of auto design and telematics, highlighted the significance of geographical and behavioral factors in determining driving risk. The report aims to encourage discussions on safer driving practices, without influencing auto insurance rates. The data emphasizes that while geographic location significantly impacts risk, drivers can mitigate crash risks through personal driving behaviors, potentially influencing costs associated with driving incidents.