How often San Diego drivers crash
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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.