(August 29, 2019) NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Drivers in Boise, Idaho, are the country's safest when taking into account population density, according to the newest set of rankings from the 2019 Allstate America's Best Drivers Report. Understanding there are many factors that contribute to car crashes, including number of cars on the road, Allstate standardizes the rankings to level the playing field between drivers in densely populated areas and their counterparts in smaller cities.

To spur positive change in communities, Allstate is lending a helping hand by offering $150,000 in grants that can be used for safety improvement projects on the 15 "Risky Roads" identified in June in recognition of the 15th anniversary of the America's Best Drivers Report.

Local safety experts are working with Allstate to determine which projects will make a positive impact for motorists driving on these crash-prone streets.

"When you consider the impact a daily commute has on a person, it's not hard to imagine how one small traffic improvement can be a positive change for many," said Saat Alety, Allstate's director of Federal Legislative and Regulatory Affairs.

"Our grants signal Allstate's commitment to reduce risky conditions on America's roads in communities across the country, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. We need Congress to pass comprehensive infrastructure reform so we can rebuild a transportation network that ensures a safer future on the roads for everyone."

The new list of the safest 200 cities is being released leading up to the Labor Day weekend and back-to-school season to encourage motorists to be extra cautious during this busy travel time. Using Allstate claims data, Allstate analysts use a predictive model to compare each city's collision frequency when factoring in its population – resulting in large jumps for dense cities like New York City (up 92 spots), Jersey City (up 74 spots), Chicago (up 49 spots) and Miami (up 47 spots), when compared to the list that doesn't take population density into account.

For the first time, Allstate uncovered the "Risky Roads" with more collisions than other streets in each of the 15 bottom-ranked cities as identified in the initial America's Best Drivers Report rankings. Allstate is partnering with local transportation experts to invest in improvement projects focused on infrastructure, distractions, traffic flow, pedestrian safety and more.

Discussions continue on the projects, and more information will be shared in the coming weeks.

The "Risky Roads" grants are the latest example of Allstate's commitment to making America's roads safer. From taking a stand on mandatory seat belts in the 1960s to advocating for air bags to be standard in all vehicles in the 1970s, and from launching its innovative Drivewise telematics product in 2010 to provide real-time driving feedback to leading the push for national Graduated Drivers Licensing legislation, Allstate continues to advance this vital community issue and help save lives.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that nearly 37,000 people died in traffic collisions in 2018.  Understanding the risks that can cause crashes and impact drivers' safety is critical, whether in a dense city or a rural area. According to NHTSA, preventable human factors, like drunk, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding and failure to use safety features, contribute to 94% of crashes.