DFW Ranks Poorly In 'Best Driver's Report' Options

[dauss]

http://cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_story_144223719.html

A new study of insurance claims by drivers shows the Dallas/Fort Worth area has some of the most hazardous roads in Texas and are more dangerous than the average roadways in other U.S. cities.

The study was done by Allstate Insurance Company. It shows 17 Texas cities were below the U.S. average for safety. Only four Texas cities were above average.

The study looked at insurance claims in the nation's 200 largest cities. It showed the average driver will experience an auto collision every 10 years. In most of Texas drivers experience wrecks much sooner.

Laredo, Brownsville and El Paso, topped the list of best drivers in Texas. In those cities drivers would average 10.4 years or more without a wreck.

Amarillo averaged 10.1, but other Texas cities fell below the 10-year average.

Dallas was worst with 7.3 years between wrecks, or a 37.2% higher likelihood to have a wreck than the average city. Drivers in Carrollton and Austin faired only slightly better.

In north Texas, Fort Worth, Plano, Mesquite, Arlington, Irving, Grand Prairie, Garland, Carrollton and Dallas, all fell below the national norm.

Insurance experts say more wrecks generally result from a mix of ingredients such as traffic congestion, longer commutes and faster-paced lifestyles.

"Whenever you have those combinations together you end up with more accidents and we saw that on the survey," said Joe McCormick, the Regional Corporate Relations Manager for Allstate Insurance Company.

The goal, the company says, is to remind drivers to stay defensive behind the wheel.

"Whether it’s driving without distractions or keeping your speed down," says McCormick, "It’s just to raise the conversation about that and get people thinking about that. That's what we're trying to do."