Slate’s “Scientific” Study Ranks Philly Drivers 2nd-Worst in Country
Slate is tired of unscientific, totally subjective studies about the country’s “worst” drivers? (I am too: My hometown of Boston always seems to wind up #1.) So it devised a weighted, data-driven analysis to create a more reliable ranking that factored in: years between traffic accidents, automotive fatalities, alcohol-related driving deaths, and pedestrian strikes.” One of the ways they did this was by adjusting the big annual Allstate report on city driving so that mileage disparities were accounted for. In 2012, that study found that Philly drivers averaged 6.1 years between collisions, the sixth-worst rate in the country. Adjusted for how few miles Philadelphians actually drive, that turned into the worst rate in the country. And overall, the second-worst driving city in the country.
Drivers in the city of brotherly love enjoy a good love tap behind the wheel. Second-places finishes in collisions and pedestrian strikes overwhelm their semi-respectable 16th-place ranking in DWI deaths.
Though this is partly a product of its narrow one-way Center City streets, I’ve witnesses some serious parallel parking issues. Miami, for the record, earned the worst ranking. Oh and for the record: “Boston drivers don’t deserve the torment they receive. They have few automotive fatalities and rarely kill people in alcohol-related accidents. It goes to show how flawed opinion polls can be.” [Slate]
