Detroit Drivers Either Greatest In US Or Among The Worst: Reports

DETROIT, MI — Drivers in Metro Detroit aren’t the worst drivers in the country, but neither are they the best, according to a new report released as Americans prepare to travel for the Fourth of July holiday, which is historically the most dangerous on U.S. roads. Sterling Heights ranked 154th out of 200 cities ranked in the Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report, Warren ranked 137th, and Detroit ranked 132nd.

It makes you want to strap on a crash helmet, right? Well, let’s turn to another study, this one from insurance website QuoteWizard.com, which says that among the country’s 75 biggest metropolitan areas, Detroit drivers are the greatest.

The difference between the two studies is in the data analyzed. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Detroit Patch, click here to find your local Michigan Patch. Also, like us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The QuoteWizard.com looked at accident rates, as well as speeding tickets, drunken driving charges and miscellaneous citations. The Allstate report looks at company property damage claims filed by its customers during a two-year period from January 2014 to December 2015.

QuoteWizard gave a kind of left-handed compliment to Detroit, rapping the city over its sky-high insurance rates.

“The Motor City is home to many distinctions, including having the most expensive car insurance rates in the country. Add the high number of uninsured and oft-unlicensed drivers, and things look start looking bleak for Detroit's roadways,” QuoteWizard wrote. “But surprisingly, our study firmly places Detroit in the top spot as America's best driving city. …

“Congratulations, people of Detroit. Despite a topsy-turvy economy and rapidly transforming city scape, your citizens are great drivers. Of course, you may need to take out a second mortgage to afford car insurance, but that’s a whole other story.”

Was that slap necessary, especially after this?

The Allstate rankings said Warren and Detroit slipped from their 2016 rankings, from 120th and 101st, respectively. Sterling Heights got a little better, but only by a couple of places. Drivers in those cities have wrecks more often, reporting claims every eight months or, in Sterling Heights’ case, every seven and a half years.

That’s almost twice as often as drivers in the safest city, Kansas City, Kansas, where the average time between claims is 14 years and nine months. Brownsville, Texas, and Madison, Wisconsin, are the second- and third-safest city in the Allstate ranking.

July 4 Deadliest Holiday

Allstate said the findings of the report are an important reminder to motorists to make safety their top priority during the Fourth of July travel period, which begins Thursday.

• See Also: Metro Detroit 2017 4th Of July Fireworks Guide: Complete List

July and August are the deadliest months on the road, with each averaging 116 deaths a day, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The National Safety Council estimates more than 40,000 people died in car crashes in 2016, making it potentially the most dangerous driving year since 2007.

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 percent 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.

“With the improving economy and more driving, we're unfortunately seeing more crashes and more crash deaths,” IIHS President Adrian Lund said in a statement. “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.”

Safety Tips

Here are some tips, whether on a higher speed interstate, rural highway or city street:

• 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..

This story has been updated to include the QuoteWizard report.

Photo by Sean Duffy via Flickr Commons