Allstate Study Reveals Geographic Disparities in US Auto Collision Risks
Allstate's 2025 America's Best Driver's Report highlights significant regional variations in collision frequency across the United States based on auto claims data from 2022 to 2023. Nationally, drivers average one accident every 10.56 years, but this risk varies widely by city. Boston ranks as the riskiest city with drivers expected to be involved in a collision every 3.07 years, followed closely by other Northeastern metropolitan areas. The study identifies seven of the ten riskiest cities in the Northeast and three in California, linking higher collision rates to traffic congestion, especially in Los Angeles.
Conversely, cities in Texas, particularly Brownsville, show the longest intervals between collisions, indicating lower crash risk. Texas overall performed well in the rankings, with several cities moving up in safety compared to previous studies. The Pacific Northwest also saw improvements, with Bellevue, Washington, advancing significantly in rankings since 2015. Notably, Midwestern cities generally experienced reductions in collision frequency, reflecting regional safety trends.
The report is based on Allstate's auto insurance claims data, representing about 10% of U.S. auto policies. While providing a useful snapshot of geographic risk variation, results may differ if other insurers conduct similar analyses. Factors influencing collision rates extend beyond driver behavior and include elements such as road conditions, weather, and urban congestion, all of which impact crash occurrence.
These insights offer insurance professionals critical data for underwriting, risk assessment, and policy pricing strategies. Understanding the geographic distribution of collision risk supports more informed decisions in claims management and targeted risk mitigation. As congestion correlates with increased collisions, insurers may consider integrating traffic density data in predictive models. This regional differentiation underscores the importance of localized strategies in auto insurance to address varying risk environments.
Overall, Allstate's report underscores how where drivers live significantly influences crash likelihood, which has direct implications for insurers, regulators, and policymakers focused on road safety and claims cost management.