Fort Collins, Colo., drivers said safest

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Fort Collins, Colo., has America's safest drivers, says the Allstate Insurance Co. in its annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report."

The report ranks America's 200 largest cities in terms of car collision frequency based on Allstate claim data, to identify which cities have the safest drivers, a company release said Thursday.

The report defines an auto crash as any collision resulting in a property damage claim.

The average driver in Fort Collins will experience an auto collision every 14.5 years, about 31 percent less likely than the national average, the report said.

Fort Collins city officials congratulated city residents for earning the safe driving recognition.

"Once again, the people of Fort Collins have made me proud to live in this community," Fort Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson said. "Becoming America's Safest Driving City takes quality roads and infrastructure. But more than anything else, it's the result of individuals taking responsibility for keeping our streets safe."

While auto crashes in general have declined during the last few years, crash fatalities still average around 35,000 every year despite technological advances, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says.

Chattanooga, Tenn.; Boise, Idaho; and Colorado Springs were also singled out by the report as safe cities.