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Allstate: Yonkers Drivers Some Of Nation's Worst

YONKERS, N.Y. – Yonkers is known for a lot of things. Apparently good driving is not one of them.

Yonkers was named the 24th worst driving city in the country by auto insurance provider Allstate, continuing a trend of declining driving in the city over the past four years.

The eighth annual “Allstate Best Drivers Report,” based on the auto insurance company’s claims data, ranked America's 200 largest cities in terms of car collision frequency to identify which cities have the safest drivers.

Allstate's auto policies represent about 10 percent of all U.S. auto policies, making this report a realistic snapshot of what's happening on America's roadways, the company said.

“Each year we hope the report will increase awareness about the importance of being tolerant and attentive behind the wheel," said Mike Roche, senior vice president of claims at Allstate.

Yonkers has climbed the list of Allstate’s worst driving cities since 2008 when it named the 74th worst driving city in America.  Now, four years later, Yonkers residents are 36 percent more likely to get in an accident than the national average, according to insurer reports.  Allstate's study also found city drivers average roughly seven years between accidents. 

Nearby, New York City drivers boast nearly an identical ratio, good enough to secure themselves the 20th spot on the list of the nation’s worst drivers, Allstate reported.  By comparison, the nation’s safest driving city, South Dakota's Sioux Falls, averages more than 13 years between accidents.  

The country’s worst drivers, however, reside in the nation’s capital. In Washington D.C., drivers were 112 percent more likely to get in a collision than the rest of the country and averaged four years between accidents, according to Allstate.

Not surprisingly, bigger cities are more prone to accidents than smaller ones, the auto insurance company found.

“Different levels and types of traffic, noise and activity, as well as varying road conditions and rules, can make big city driving different than driving in smaller cities or more suburban areas,” the report said.

Although car crash fatalities are at their lowest level in the country since 1949, more than 32,000 Americans die every year, Allstate reported, noting a need for more awareness on the road.

"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," Roche said. 

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