Portland Drivers are Among the Worst in US

Monday, February 15, 2016
GoLocalPDX News Team

Who are the best drivers in America? Not the folks in Portland. But, they are among America's worst drivers.

According to a national report the best drivers are in Kansas City, Kansas. In contrast, the drivers in Portland rank #183 out of 200 cities. 

And, guess who is dead last — Boston — ranked #200.

SEE THE FULL RANKING BELOW

The study looked at data such as the average number of years between accidents. To contrast, the cities that were scored as having the safest drivers — Kansas City and Brownsville, Texas — averaged 13.3 years between accidents.

Portland was among the worst ranked in the United States of the 200 cities tracked at just 6.9 years. Number and frequency are factors in setting the cost of auto insurance.

Likelihood of an Accident

Another key factor used in the ranking is the relative accident likelihood — compared to the national average —  leading cities in the study are 25% less likely to have an accident. Portland is more than 45% more likely to have an accident.

Lawyer’s Dream

For literally hundreds of lawyers who specialize in personal injury law, the new data is another proof point, and a new marketing opportunity.

“A car accident can take only a second, but the consequences of a crash can last for days, months, or even a lifetime. A drunk driver slams into your car head-on on the Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, resulting in a lifetime of chronic back pain. A tired truck driver doesn’t see your car when it merges onto I-5, and now you can’t pay your bills and support your family. A distracted driver hits you in an intersection in downtown Portland, causing serious broken bones, nerve damage, or a traumatic brain injury (TBI),” markets Sean Dubois of DuBois Law Group, a leading personal injury attorney who positions his firm as an expert in the area.

The Report 

Allstate America's Best Drivers Report® is an annual ranking that identifies which of the 200 largest U.S. cities has the safest drivers.