Best drivers report: Tampa, St. Petersburg rank poorly

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

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ST. PETERSBURG -- Allstate Insurance Company has released its 5th annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report."

The report, which is based on Allstate data, ranks America's 200 largest cities in terms of car collision frequency to identify which cities have the safest drivers.

More Information

St. Petersburg slid five spots down in 2009 to number 80 on the list. Tampa moved up from 159 last year to 152.

However, drivers in both cities are more likely to experience a collision than the national average.

How Florida cities rank

City & Overall Ranking	Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average	Average Years Between Collisions
42. Cape Coral	-3.2% Less Likely	10.3
54. Port St. Lucie	-0.8% Less Likely	10.1
60. Tallahassee	1.7% More Likely	9.8
73. Jacksonville	4.0% More Likely	9.6
80. St. Petersburg	5.4% More Likely	9.5
123. Ft. Lauderdale	16.7% More Likely	8.6
143. Hollywood	25.1% More Likely	8.0
146. Orlando	25.7% More Likely	8.0
152. Tampa	28.5% More Likely	7.8
169. Miami	37.0% More Likely	7.3
180. Hialeah	44.1% More Likely	6.9

Auto crashes in general have declined over the last few years, but crash fatalities still average about 40,000 every year despite technological safety advances.

More about the report

For the past five years, Allstate actuaries have conducted an in-depth analysis of company claim data to determine the likelihood drivers in America's 200 largest cities will experience a vehicle collision compared to the national average.

Internal property damage reported claims were analyzed over a two-year period (from January 2006 to December 2007) to ensure the findings would not be impacted by external influences such as weather or road construction.

A weighted average of the two-year numbers determined the annual percentages. The report defines an auto crash as any collision resulting in a property damage claim.

Allstate said its auto policies represent about 11.3 percent of all U.S. auto policies, making the report a realistic snapshot of what's happening on America's roadways.

Avoiding accidents

"Human error is the biggest cause of accidents. It is vital for us to educate drivers across the country on the importance of being tolerant and attentive behind the wheel," said Mike Roche, a senior vice president at Allstate's Claim Organization.

Tips from Allstate on avoiding accidents:

Minimize distractions - Engaging in any other activity while driving - talking on your cell phone, text messaging, changing a radio station, putting on makeup - is a distraction.
Be aware of road conditions - Ice, snow, fog, rain - all of these weather conditions require extra caution and slower speeds.
Leave a safe distance between your car and others around you - Maintain at least one car length space between your car and the vehicle in front of you for every 10 miles per hour of speed.
Steer clear of road rage - Reduce stress on the road by allowing plenty of time for travel, planning your route in advance, and altering your schedule or route to avoid congested roads. Remember not to challenge aggressive drivers and stay as far away from them as possible.
Maintenance matters - Ultimately, safety also depends on the maintenance of one's car. Ensure that car brakes, exhaust system, tires, lights, battery, and hoses are in good working order.