Las Vegas rates low on ranking of America’s best drivers

By Jackie Valley

Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012 | 2 a.m.

It might be time for Southern Nevada residents to do the unthinkable and learn a thing or two from their northern rival, Reno.

Reno might not have much on the Las Vegas Valley (in our not-so-humble opinion), but it has far better drivers, according to a report released Tuesday by Allstate.

Reno ranked eighth in Allstate’s 2012 America’s Best Drivers Report, which is based on the insurance company’s claims data. The report ranked the United States’ 200 largest cities in terms of car collision frequency to determine the safest drivers.

Las Vegas scored on the opposite end of that spectrum — landing at 136 out of 200 cities. North Las Vegas and Henderson ranked 126th and 70th, respectively.

The average Las Vegas driver will be involved in a crash every nine years, according to the report. That represents an improvement of 0.4 years compared with the 2011 report.

“We don’t want drivers in Las Vegas to be discouraged by their ranking,” Jayna Magliaro, a Las Vegas-based Allstate exclusive agency owner, said in a statement.

Wait. Come again?

She elaborated: “We want the report to challenge drivers in Las Vegas to make positive changes to their driving habits that will in turn make the city a safer place to live, work and raise families.”

There are signs of improvement already. Southern Nevada’s three cities posted gains compared with 2011. Henderson jumped 27 spots in the ranking.

North Las Vegas and Las Vegas showed more modest improvements — moving up by nine and two spots, respectively.

Sioux Falls, S.D., took this year’s top honor for safest drivers. Boise, Idaho; Fort Collins, Colo.; Madison, Wis.; and Lincoln, Neb., rounded out the top five.

And, if the report has any sway, drivers should avoid Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Providence, R.I.; Hialeah, Fla.; and Glendale, Calif. They scored lowest on the ranking, with Washington taking the bottom spot.

Allstate officials say Southern Nevada residents can improve their driving by employing these common-sense practices: staying alert, allowing plenty of time to reach destinations, reviewing directions before driving, following the speed limit, watching for pedestrians and maintaining a safe driving distance around other vehicles.