Next to Thanksgiving, July Fourth weekend is arguably the most traveled weekend in the year for America. It is also the deadliest day on the roads for Americans.
It’s a three-day holiday for many of us and for the RV owners like yourself, this is the perfect invitation to get out and explore the country. However, it is also the deadliest day on American roads, at least that is according to a new report for Allstate Insurance.
Allstate Insurance Company, like all insurance companies are data driven, and will often report their findings when trends emerge. One such report was recently released, data, the 2016 America’s Best Drivers Report, that measured vehicle collision frequency in America’s 200 largest cities to determine which cities have the safest drivers.
The report comes just in time for the July Fourth holiday. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently identified July fourth as the deadliest day of the year on average for drivers.
Allstate published the Best Drivers Report to highlight America’s safest cities as part of their mission to “heighten awareness around increasing roadway collisions that have unfortunate consequences, such as rising fatalities and potentially higher insurance costs.” Said one Allstate spokesman.
Staying safe on the 4th of July
The IIHS lists intoxicated driving as the primary factor in Fourth of July crash fatalities, with 42 percent of all alcohol related fatalities between 2010 and 2014 involving at least one driver with a blood-alcohol concentration over the legal driving limit of .08.
Preventable human factors, like distracted or drowsy driving; speeding; and failure to use safety features contribute to 94 percent of all car crashes.
Fueled by a healthier economy, National safety experts say drivers are now spending more time on the road than in pre recession years and are also suffering more fatal collisions than in recent years. The U.S. Department of Transportation says that from March 2015 to February 2016, Americans drove 3.15 trillion miles, an increase of more than 3 percent over the previous 12 months and the largest year-to-year increase in over two decades. According to the National Safety Council, more than 38,000 roadway fatalities occurred last year, the highest count since 2008.
How do American cities measure up?
The Insurance and Autobody industries both cite the average driver will experience a collision once every ten years. Allstate’s new research lists Brownsville Texas as the safest driving city in the USA12th annual America’s Best Drivers Report®. The average driver in Brownsville, Texas experiences an auto collision every 14.6 years, which is 31.4 percent less often than the national average.
Allstate Insurance publishes their list every year as a reminder to drivers who are travelling this holiday. They list the cities and the percentage compared to the national average, and the average years between collisions for drivers in that city.
The following are the top 10 safest driving cities, according to Allstate’s 2016 America’s Best Drivers Report:
City & Overall Ranking
Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average
Average Years Between Collisions (National Average: 10)
- Brownsville, Texas
31.4% less likely Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average
14.6 Average Years Between Collisions
- Kansas City, Kansas
26.3% less likely Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average
13.6 Average Years Between Collisions
- Madison, Wisconsin
24.7% less likely Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average
13.3 Average Years Between Collisions
- Cape Coral, Florida
22.3% less likely Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average
12.9 Average Years Between Collisions
- Boise, Idaho
22.1% less likely Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average
12.8 Average Years Between Collisions
- Huntsville, Alabama
21.4% less likely Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average
12.7 Average Years Between Collisions
- Port Saint Lucie, Florida
20.1% less likely Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average
12.5 Average Years Between Collisions
- Wichita, Kansas
19.7% less likely Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average
12.5 Average Years Between Collisions
- Olathe, Kansas
19.6% less likely Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average
12.4 Average Years Between Collisions
- Reno, Nevada
18.3% less likely Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average
12.2 Average Years Between Collisions
Allstate’s America’s Best Drivers Report® defines a collision as any auto crash resulting in a property damage claim. Allstate’s auto policies represent nearly 10 percent of all U.S. auto policies, making this report a realistic snapshot of what’s happening on America’s roadways.
How RV’ers can stay safe this 4th of July
With a much larger and sometimes slower vehicle like an RV it could be best to carefully plan your route to avoid major highways. More traffic congestion and heavier traffic causes more road rage and less cautious drivers. Its best to avoid major points of congestion.
Consider also leaving at no peak times such as very early in the morning, or drive during the night, but only with a well rested driver, or a team of drivers. Be sure to take breaks every two hours, or even swap drivers every two hours to avoid road fatigue.
Most importantly, If you are going to get out in your RV this weekend, Be cautious, be safe.