Richmond ranks in top third for safe driving in U.S. - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

The roadways in Richmond are relatively reliable, according to the 2012 Allstate Annual Best Drivers Report. The newly released study ranks nearly 200 cities having the best and worst drivers. Richmond comes in at 66 according to the study, based on the Allstate's own data.

Richmond roads aren't as safe as Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which rolled in as having the lowest frequency of car accidents. However, a ranking in the top third of U.S. cities for the River City is moving in the right direction, according to Martha Meade, of AAA MidAtlantic.

"We're sharing the road nicely. But, we want to continue to make that number go up," said Meade.

The average driver in Richmond goes nearly ten years between accidents. However, not everyone on the highway, like longtime resident Michael Smith, is convinced that RVA drivers showing southern hospitality.

"As it gets more crowded in the Richmond area, the driving is getting a little bit worse, with the running of the red lights and speeding," commented Smith.

Although Richmond's rank was pretty solid this year, other cities in Virginia didn't fare as well. Arlington, Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Alexandria each ranked towards the bottom of the list. Washington, D.C. was found to have the most dangerous roads in the country.

Richmond ranked a low of 31 on the list, back in 2009.

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