Dubious Distinction: Baltimore Maryland Drivers Among Worst in the Nation, Allstate Report Finds

Anyone who drives to or from the city of Baltimore, Maryland at rush hour will tell you — it’s not for the faint of heart. Like most older American cities, Baltimore has problems with traffic congestion. There are simply too many drivers jockeying to get someplace at the same time on roads not built to handle the volume. Throw in Baltimore County road and bridge construction delays, bad weather, and car accidents, and it’s not a pretty sight.

And now, apparently, Baltimore drivers’ bad habits have made the traffic situation in Maryland uglier — and the chance of getting in a Baltimore traffic accident more likely.

According to the Baltimore Business Journal, insurance company Allstate has published a report that finds Baltimore drivers to be some of the most dangerous in the country. The study, which looked at 200 American cities, found that…

  • Baltimore drivers experience an accident every 5.6 years on average.
  • Compared to the national average, Baltimore drivers are 79.4 % more likely to get into a traffic accident.
  • Baltimore, Md ranks 192nd in the U.S. for safety — that’s second-to-last. Our neighbor, Washington, D.C., slammed in to last place or 193rd worst in the county. (Some cities tied for their slots, so the survey only goes up to 193rd place.)

Allstate cites “human error” as the number-one cause of auto accidents. That includes distracted driving, road rage, not paying attention to weather conditions and other traffic, and poorly maintained vehicles.

Baltimore Drivers: Charming and Dangerous?
Allstate’s report is in contrast to a 2009 survey conducted by auto club AutoVantage, which, ironically, found Baltimore drivers to be the third-most courteous in the country — with news headlines describing Baltimore drivers as downright “charming.” Maybe now that means they pleasantly wave at their fellow motorists before cutting them off on the Baltimore Beltway …while texting.

Surveys aside — an experienced Baltimore car accident injury lawyer knows that things can and do go terribly wrong on Baltimore City and County roads and highways. Aggressive driving incidents are statistically on the rise in Maryland — in part due to police changing the way they code traffic accidents. Allstate’s report suggests that Baltimore drivers are indeed more dangerous than others in the country.

Allstate: Baltimore drivers among most dangerous
Baltimore Business Journal Sept. 2, 2010
Sixth Annual “Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report” Reveals New Safest Driving City
Allstate Press Release Sept. 2, 1010
Related Maryland Injury Attorney Blog Entries:

Baltimore Drivers Ranked Among the Most Courteous in the Nation

Maryland Traffic Crash Data : Auto Accidents and Fatalities Down, but Aggressive Driving Stats Up

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