Road Trip Survival Guide: 9 Ways to Save and Stay Safe this Summer
(BPT) - Millions of Americans are taking to the road this summer for what is expected to be a record-breaking travel season.
Whether you're headed to a national park or coastal city, safety and savings are top priorities for any vacation.
Providers like Allstate offer drivers a variety of ways to save, including personalized rates to help you stay protected while saving more this summer.
Ready to get on the road? Keep these tips in mind.
1. Choose your destination wisely
Some cities are riskier to drive in than others. For example, according to the 2025 Allstate America's Best Drivers (ABD) Report (R),* Boston ranks as the riskiest city in the U.S., while Brownsville, Texas, is the safest.
Seven of the 10 cities with the highest collision rates are in the Northeast, but the West Coast isn't far behind. Los Angeles, Glendale and Oakland, California, round out the top 10.
For a smoother ride, pick scenic regions like the Pacific Northwest. Drivers in Washington, Oregon and Alaska are driving safer than ever, with some of the biggest reductions in collisions countrywide.
2. Drive a newer vehicle
Driving a new vehicle has its perks.
"When you buy a new vehicle, you may qualify for a lower premium," said smart shopping expert Trae Bodge. "If you choose an auto insurance provider like Allstate, you can save on your policy if your vehicle is a current model year or one year older."
3. Drive a car with built-in safety and security features
Bodge also recommends driving a car equipped with built-in safety features, such as airbags, antilock brakes and anti-theft systems. Vehicles with these types of features are less likely to be in an accident or stolen than those without them and may qualify you for lower premiums.
4. Stay focused, stay safe
Distracted driving is dangerous. Keep your phone out of reach, skip the snacks and keep your eyes on the road.
Staying focused and distraction-free is critical when driving in a city like Boston, where drivers are nearly three and a half times as likely to be involved in a collision compared to the national average, according to the Allstate America's Best Drivers report.
5. Respect speed limits
Allstate found that Alabama cities like Birmingham, Mobile and Montgomery experience larger rates of high-speed driving. Similarly, drivers in several major Midwest cities - including Indianapolis, Detroit and Chicago frequently exceed the speed limit by 15 mph or more.**
Don't follow the crowd and and give in to the temptation to do the same.
6. Keep a clean driving record
According to Bodge, safe driving without violations or claims for several consecutive months can unlock safe driving discounts.
7. Enroll in a safe driving program
Enroll in a free program like Drivewise, available through the Allstate mobile app. The program rewards good driving habits like gentle braking, staying off your phone or maintaining safe speeds. This not only helps you make safer choices, but can help you save, too, with a personalized rate. A bonus: Allstate customers who choose to use Drivewise are 25% less likely to have a severe collision than those who don't.***
8. Young drivers can save, too
It's never too early to establish safe driving habits. According to Bodge, insurance companies like Allstate also offer special programs for newer drivers. "If you're unmarried and under the age of 25, you can save at Allstate for maintaining good grades or successfully completing a driver education program," adds Bodge.
9. Drive sober and well-rested
When road-tripping with friends, be sure to take turns driving to stay focused and alert when behind the wheel. If you're going out for a good time, ensure that someone in your group agrees to be the designated driver.
Stay safe and have fun!
Wherever you're headed, Allstate's got your back. Get personalized rates and expert safety tips to help you stay protected and save more this summer. Start your journey at Allstate.com.
*Now in its 17th year, the 2025 Allstate America's Best Drivers Report® ranks the 200 largest U.S. cities by collision frequency to help determine which have the safest - and riskiest - drivers. This year, Allstate researchers analyzed property damage claims reported during the two-year period of January 2022 to December 2023. The report defines a collision as any auto crash resulting in a property damage claim. The report uses U.S. Census Bureau data to determine America's 200 largest cities.
**Regional driving behavior statistics are based on 2024 data from Allstate's mobility intelligence insights, which analyze aggregated and anonymized driving behavior - including phone handling, high-speed driving and hard braking - across the 100 most populous U.S. cities.
***According to Allstate claims data, the average driver in the U.S. will experience a collision once every 10.56 years.
Source: BrandPoint
