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Portland drivers have a greater chance of being involved in a collision than most of the country, an Allstate analysis finds.

(The Oregonian)

If you've ever found yourself flustered behind the wheel in Sunset Highway gridlock, screaming that "Portland drivers are the worst," we'd like to set the record straight.

They're not the worst, but they're pretty darn close, according to Allstate Insurance company's ninth annual "America's Best Drivers" report.



In the 2013 analysis of collision frequency in the nation's 200 largest cities, Portland ranks as one of the least safe driving cities, landing with a screech and a crunch at number 154 on the list.

The average Portland driver will experience an auto collision every 7.9 years, which is about 27 percent more likely than the national average, according to the report.

"We don't want drivers in Portland to be discouraged by their ranking. Instead, we want the report to challenge drivers in Portland to make positive changes to their driving habits that will in turn make the city a safer place to live, work and raise families," said Shauna McBride, an Allstate spokeswoman for the Northwest region, in an email.

Too late. We're already discouraged, thanks to having some of the nation's most stressful and unpredictable commutes, according a recent congestion study conducted by Texas A&M researchers.



Allstate, one of the nation’s largest auto insurance companies, handles about 10.5 percent of U.S. collision claims. Although the analysis involved only Allstate data, many Portland commuters agreed wholeheartedly with the Allstate study.

In fact, Kent McAbee took issue with McBride's optimistic words for his fellow road warriors. "I want bad drivers to be discouraged and shamed into changing their ways," the Portland resident said, "but that's a slim chance."

"I believe it," said Lori Covington of Portland, adding that the high crash rates may have something to do with what she sees as lax enforcement of the state's laws against texting and using a handheld cellphone while driving.

"I was waiting for the light to turn at Burnside and 20

th

the other day and the four cars that turned on to 20

th

all had drivers talking on their cell phones," she said.

John Borge wondered whether the study even considered the average Portlander's prowess on snow. "THAT is a real comedy act," he said in an email reacting to the study.

It's not all bad news for Oregon drivers.

Eugene and Salem drivers were ranked among some of the nation's safest. In fact, Eugene has the nation's 10th "best drivers," averaging nearly 12 years between collisions, making them 16.2 percent less likely than the national average to be involved in a crash, Allstate says.

In Salem, drivers average 9.7 years between collisions, or 3.3 percent more likely than the national average, according to the report.(PDF)

Why do these reports based on insurance data matter?

Well, after six straight years of declines, year-to-year traffic fatalities increased by more than 1,700 from 2011 to 2012, according to the most recent report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Meanwhile, Allstate said its research found that 70 percent of vehicles involved in auto claims are considered drivable, indicating that most crashes are the result of collisions under 35 miles per hour that take place in "stop and go" traffic locations.

"It is vital for us to educate American drivers about safe driving behaviors they can practice on the road that will help make our roadways safer," McBride said. "Minimizing distractions, obeying traffic laws, and using your car's safety features like turn signals and headlights, are all ways to be safer, no matter where you drive."

The city with the nation's safest drivers: Fort Collins, Colo. Boise, Idaho, ranked second best.

And the city with the absolute worst drivers, according to Allstate? Gridlocked Washington, D.C.

-- Joseph Rose