Americans are hitting the roads in record numbers for summer fun and vacations.
Insurance agents and brokers have the opportunity to encourage everyone to make safety their number one priority whenever they're behind the wheel. Not only will fewer accidents prevent costly insurance claims, it will also save lives.
More than 40,000 people died in car crashes in 2016, making it potentially the most dangerous driving year since 2007, according to the National Safety Council. July and August are the deadliest months on the road, with each averaging 116 traffic deaths a day, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), data has found.
|Cities with best drivers
So, where in the United States are drivers least likely to have a collision? To answer that question, Allstate released its 13th annual America's Best Drivers Report naming the 10 safest-driving cities.
This year's three safest cities, Kansas City, Kansas; Brownsville, Texas; and Madison, Wisconsin, retain their places in the top three from last year's report, with Kansas City jumping ahead of 2016′s winner, Brownsville, to earn the title of safest-driving city overall. The average Kansas City driver is about 32% less likely to experience a collision than the average U.S. driver.
The 13th annual Allstate America's Best Drivers Report named Kansas City, Kansas, the city with America's safest drivers. (Image: Allstate America's Best Drivers Report)
Other highlights from the 2017 report include New York City's significant improvement, rising 27 places from last year to the 116th spot overall, and Anchorage, Alaska's, distinction as the most improved city, thanks to a 35-spot jump to number 34 this year.
Visit Allstate.com/BestDriversReport for an interactive map and full results for this year, as well as collision-frequency rankings in previous years' reports. Continue reading for tips on safe driving, as well as a handy infographic to share with your auto insurance clients:
Tips on safe driving
Understanding the risks that can cause crashes and impact a city's rank and drivers' safety is critical. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, preventable human factors, like drunk, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding and failure to use safety features, contribute to 94% of car crashes. The IIHS found crashes happen more frequently on Saturdays, during certain holidays, like the Fourth of July, and between the hours of 3-7 p.m.
- Eliminate distractions, including electronic devices, to ensure you're fully prepared to stop.
- Allow plenty of time to reach your destination.
- Obey all traffic laws, including speed limits.
- Be aware of road conditions.
- Leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicles in front of you.
- Maintain your vehicle, so it's prepared for extreme situations.
"With the improving economy and more driving, we're unfortunately seeing more crashes and more crash deaths," said IIHS President Adrian Lund. "Summer travel for vacations and recreation is often riskier than the daily commute. We hope this year's Best Drivers Report encourages more people to buckle up, watch their speeds, avoid distractions and stay off the roads after drinking alcohol."
(Courtesy of Allstate)
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Denny Jacob
Denny Jacob is an associate editor for NU PropertyCasualty360. Contact him at [email protected].
