Car wrecks more frequent in New Orleans than nationally
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That reputation New Orleans has for drivers with a lot of car wrecks? Well, it's not wrong, according to Allstate claims data.
Why it matters: The findings put a little quantitative weight behind some people's strongly held beliefs about their neighbors' driving skills.
Driving the news: Drivers in New Orleans go a little more than 7 years, on average, between collisions, according to Allstate's 2025 America's Best Drivers Report.
- Meanwhile, 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, without factoring in their severity.
- Minor fender benders that go unreported — nearly as common on New Orleans roads as potholes — also aren't captured here.
- Notably, the findings are based on where drivers live, not necessarily where incidents happen.
The big picture: Gov. Jeff Landry made tackling steep car insurance premiums a goal during the last legislative session.
- He signed new laws to give the state insurance commissioner more authority to reject rate increases, offer discounts for dashcams for some trucking companies, prevent undocumented immigrants from collecting damages in car accidents and other changes.
- But it's not clear whether the new legislation will ultimately bring rates down, The Times-Picayune reports.

