Boston continues to hold an unwanted distinction among the nation’s largest cities. According to Allstate’s newly released 2026 America’s Best Drivers Report, Boston ranked last among the 200 most populous U.S. cities for driving safety based on property damage claim frequency. Worcester and Springfield also placed among the nation’s 10 most collision-prone cities, giving Massachusetts three cities in the bottom 10 of the annual rankings.
Now in its 18th year, Allstate’s report ranks the country’s 200 largest cities using the insurer’s auto claims data to measure how frequently drivers experience collisions. This year’s report again places Boston at No. 200, with Worcester ranked 197th and Springfield 196th.
Boston Finishes 200th out of 200 in the National Rankings
Boston drivers average just 3.76 years between collisions, the shortest interval among the 200 cities studied. By comparison, the average U.S. driver experiences a collision once every 10.86 years, according to Allstate. The report also estimates that Boston drivers are 189% more likely to be involved in a collision than the national average.
Although Boston again ranked as the nation’s most collision-prone city, Allstate notes that where people drive is only one part of the equation. The company also examined aggregated driving behavior data through its Drivewise telematics program and found that Boston is among the metropolitan areas with the highest levels of phone use while driving.
Worcester and Springfield Also Rank Among the Nation’s Riskiest Cities
Boston was not the only Massachusetts city near the bottom of the rankings.
Worcester ranked 197th, making it the fourth most collision-prone city in the country. Drivers there average 5.14 years between collisions, and Allstate estimates they are approximately 111% more likely to experience a collision than the national average.
Springfield followed immediately behind at 196th, ranking as the nation’s fifth most collision-prone city. Drivers there average 5.18 years between collisions, with an estimated collision likelihood approximately 110% above the national average.
Massachusetts was part of a broader regional pattern identified in the report. Allstate found that the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states are home to seven of the nation’s ten most collision-prone cities, including Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Providence, and Philadelphia.
Drivewise Data Provides Additional Context
In addition to claims data, the report includes aggregated and anonymized information from Allstate’s Drivewise telematics program to illustrate driving behaviors observed in various metropolitan areas.
Among its findings, Allstate reports that Boston is one of the metropolitan areas with elevated levels of phone use while driving, while other cities rank highest for behaviors such as speeding, hard braking or nighttime driving. The company emphasizes that these behavioral measures are presented as context to help explain driving patterns and are not used to determine the city rankings.
Laura Hoffman, Allstate’s vice president of auto design and telematics, said the data shows that both location and driving habits contribute to collision risk.
“Where you drive plays a role in your risk, but how and when you drive matters just as much. By pairing claims data with driving insights such as speeding, hard braking and phone use from Allstate’s Drivewise, we’re helping drivers take simple steps to prevent crashes and keep insurance costs down.”
How Allstate Measures Collision Frequency
Allstate bases the rankings on property damage claim frequency, expressed as the average number of years between collisions. The 2026 report analyzes claims occurring during the two-year period from January 2023 through December 2024 across the nation’s 200 most populous cities. According to the company, its insured vehicles represent approximately 10% of all U.S. auto policies, providing what it describes as a representative snapshot of national driving trends.
The company separately analyzed aggregated Drivewise behavioral data collected during 2025 to provide additional context regarding driver habits. Those behavioral metrics—including speeding, hard braking, phone use and nighttime driving—do not determine a city’s ranking.
Report Is Not Used to Set Insurance Rates
Allstate also makes clear that the report serves as a public analysis of driving trends rather than a pricing tool.
According to the report linked here, Allstate’s “America’s Best Drivers Report” is intended to encourage safer driving and raise awareness of collision risk. The company states that the report and its rankings are not used to determine auto insurance rates.
