Indianapolis drivers are better than Detroit and Chicago
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Michigan drivers, amirite? According to Allstate claims data, I am!
Why it matters: The findings put a little quantitative weight behind some people's strongly held beliefs about the quality — or lack thereof — of their neighbors' driving skills.
Driving the news: Drivers from Detroit have about four months less time between collisions on average, according to Allstate's 2025 America's Best Drivers Report.
- Indianapolis drivers average 8.3 years between collisions, which makes us better than those in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, Minneapolis and St. Louis, too.
- Booyah.
Yes, but: The nationwide average is about 10.6 years.
How it works: Allstate's report is based on 2022-2023 claims data and defines collisions as incidents resulting in property or collision damage claims.
- That means minor fender benders that go unreported — as common in city driving as potholes and work zones — aren't captured here.
- The findings are based on where drivers live, not necessarily where incidents happen.
Reality check: The data doesn't factor in collisions' severity.
- Some cities may have a smaller number of road incidents overall, but more fatalities.
The bottom line: "No matter where you drive, the best way to protect yourself and others is simple: buckle up, stay focused and slow down," Sandee Lindorfer, Allstate vice president of auto claims, said in a statement accompanying the report.