How often San Diego drivers crash
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.


The average driver in San Diego goes almost nine years between collisions, according to Allstate claims data.
Why it matters: The findings put quantitative weight behind some people's strongly held beliefs about the quality — or lack thereof — of their neighbors' driving skills.
By the numbers: San Diego drivers have a more frequent crash rate than the national average, which was 10.6 years.
- Drivers around Boston, Washington and Baltimore go the fewest years between collisions (about three to four years).
- Los Angeles, Glendale and Oakland, California, are also among the 10 riskiest cities, with some of the highest collision rates.
- Drivers in Brownsville, Texas, have the longest gap between car accidents at 14.2 years.
How it works: Allstate's 2025 Best Drivers 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.
- In San Diego, pedestrian traffic deaths have been increasing in recent years.
Between the lines: Distracted driving remains pervasive, contributing to a rise in traffic deaths nationwide.

