Report: Valley Motorists Are Safest in Texas

Jul. 13--Hector Farias feels safer driving big city roads rather than traveling the Rio Grande Valley streets, but the numbers say otherwise.

Known for its resilient economy, among other less-than-savory distinctions, the Valley can claim one more title: two of the safest cities to drive in Texas.

Brownsville and McAllen bested all other large Texas cities on Allstate Insurance Co.'s fourth-annual America's Best Drivers Report. The insurer ranked the country's 200 largest cities on the chance of being involved in a car crash compared to the national average.

Brownsville took the top spot in Texas at 23. Drivers in the border town are 9.3 percent less likely to crash when compared to the national average. McAllen took the 39th spot, with drivers 4.8 percent less likely to crash.

Still Farias, a security guard who declined to say which parking lot he patrols, said drivers in big cities are more experienced and generally more considerate than their Valley counterparts. He has been in two accidents in the Valley and neither were his fault, he said.

"I find more rude, inconsiderate drivers in the Valley," he said. "People will cut you off just because they want to be first I guess."

If you're like Farias, who laughed in disbelief when he first heard about the study, you could be forgiven. This is the Valley after all, where thousands of Winter Texans live for three months a year and where thousands of Mexican Nationals pour across the river to shop. And both groups drive just so noticeably slower.

Vernon Rosser, chief of the Hidalgo Police department, said it's remarkable the low number of accidents here when you consider the millions of cars that come across the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge.

"We're not having to go out there and mop up blood off the streets," he said. "Either they're good drivers or they know how to dodge really well."

Taking the top spot on Allstate's list in 2009 was Sioux Falls, South Dakota where drivers are 26.1 percent less likely to be involved in a crash. Aside from Lubbock and Laredo, all other Texas cities were worse than the national average. Irving earned the dubious distinction of the worst in the state, with drivers 46.6 percent more likely to crash.

Allstate analyzed internal claims data over a two-year period from January 2006 to December 2007. Allstate has 11.3 percent of the nation's auto insurance policies, according to a company press release. The data does not account for accidents that are not reported to Allstate.

"The story behind the numbers, we leave that to the city officials and the government officials to explain that," said Kristen Beaman, a company spokeswoman. "It's purely made to generate conversation about what it means to be a safe driver."

Mike Kelley, a sales representative for a trucking company, agreed that drivers in the Valley are fine and he said that they're even respectful and courteous to foreigners who aren't familiar with the roads.

But he said the problem is aging roads that can't accommodate the high volume of daily drivers. He gave several examples of problematic streets, including the U.S. 281 and Expressway 83 interchange in Pharr.

"Everyday I come to work, I have to travel that route and four out of five days at 7 a.m. it's bumper-to-bumper," Kelley said. "And if there's an accident you got an hour delay."

Sean Gaffney covers business, the economy and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4434.

View the Allstate report at www.allstatenewsroom.com/releases/4529-fifth-annual-allstate-america