According to the report, Boston drivers average just 3.76 years between collisions, giving them a relative crash likelihood roughly 189% higher than the national average. For context, the average U.S. driver goes nearly 11 years between collisions.

The city of Boston wasn’t alone, either, as Worcester and Springfield also landed in the ‘top 5 worst’ cities ranked (out of 200), with Providence, Rhode Island earning a spot in the top ten riskiest metros to drive in. The report further found that the Northeast is home to seven of the ten riskiest cities in the nation to drive in; a list which also includes Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia alongside the named Massachusetts cities.

The newly released report is based on property damage claims filed between January 2023 and December 2024. Allstate also pointed to behavioral data from its Drivewise telematics program, noting that Boston stands out for elevated rates of phone use when driving, a habit that becomes especially dangerous when combined with the region’s dense traffic, narrow streets, and famously confusing intersections.

A Regional Response: The “New England Drive to Save Lives” Campaign

With population increases post-COVID, as well as hundreds of thousands of seasonal tourists visiting New England each year (Summer on the Cape and Islands, Autumn leaf peepers, and White Mountain skiers), the problem has raised enough alarms. 

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut have joined forces this summer in support of the New England Drive to Save Lives campaign, a coordinated regional effort involving state and local police, highway safety offices, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The campaign includes increased highway patrols, community outreach events, and public safety messaging aimed at shifting driver mindsets before small bad habits turn into serious crashes. 

Law enforcement agencies along the I-95 and I-91 corridors are stepping up enforcement of speeding, distracted driving, and seatbelt laws through the busy summer travel season, with additional waves of enforcement planned as the calendar moves into Fall, just in time for leaf-peeping tourists, shortened daylight hours, and back-to-school traffic.

Tips for Driving Safely in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire 

Whether you’re a lifelong local or just passing through, a few precautions can go a long way toward keeping you and your family safe:

1. Put the phone away. Distracted driving is a major factor behind Boston’s ranking. Use hands-free settings, or better yet, silence notifications entirely while driving.
2. Build in extra time. Summer road work and detours are common throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire (hello, Cape Cod bridges!). Stay patient and expect sudden slowdowns
3. Watch for pedestrians and cyclists. Warmer weather brings more foot and bike traffic, particularly in dense areas like Boston, Cambridge, and Worcester. Slow down near crosswalks and give cyclists a wide berth.
4. Keep a cool head. New England drivers have a reputation for aggressive driving. It’s a good idea to signal early, commit to merges, and, for goodness sake, don’t hesitate in a rotary, since hesitation is often what leads to accidents. 
5. Anticipate heavier weekend and holiday traffic. Leaf-peeping season and fall weekend getaways bring a surge of unfamiliar drivers. Locals know what’s coming, so give yourself extra time to navigate the increased volume. 

Even the most careful drivers can’t control what other people do on the road. If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision anywhere in Massachusetts or southern New Hampshire, Marcotte Law Firm is available to help. Contact us today for a free consultation.

July 16, 2026

This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Due to the increased amount of bicycle traffic, vehicles and bicycles are often vying for the same road space. Drivers often believe that they always have the right-of-way and that cyclists are the ones who need to move to the side. However, the fact is that drivers share the road with all vehicles, including cyclists. A cyclist is entitled to use an entire travel lane, even if there are other vehicles sharing the road. Due to differences in traveling speed, drivers often perform unsafe maneuvers in an effort to pass the slower-moving cyclist. It is not uncommon for a driver to “clip” a cyclist when attempting to pass. Similar to pedestrian accidents, bicycle accident injuries can be very serious due to the size and weight difference between bicycles and vehicles. Further, like pedestrians, bicycles offer no protection from vehicles.

Another common example of bicycle-vehicle accidents are known as “dooring accidents.” Dooring refers to when the driver of a parked vehicle opens a car door as a cyclist approaches. Due to travel speed and limited reaction time, cyclists often strike an opened vehicle door with tremendous force. Massachusetts law requires vehicle drivers and passengers to check for cyclists before opening their doors.

There are a number of Massachusetts laws aimed at ensuring safe conditions for cyclists, including, but not limited to:

• Unlike vehicles, cyclists may pass vehicles on the right. This fact cannot be used as a legal defense for a motorist involved in an accident with a cyclist;
• Cyclists must obey all traffic laws, including the use of headlights and tail lights for night riding;
• After passing a cyclist, a driver may not make abrupt right turns at intersections and driveways, i.e., they must let the cyclist pass first;
• Drivers may not pass cyclists until there is a safe distance to do so. If there is not a safe distance, then the driver must wait;
• No more than two (2) cyclists may ride together, except on multi-lane roads where there is more than one (1) lane traveling in the same direction. In these instances, the group of cyclists must ride in a single lane; and
• When preparing to make a left turn, drivers must yield to oncoming cyclists.

Now that you know the law, and have followed it perfectly as a cyclist, what happens if I am still involved in an accident? If this happens to you, there are a couple things you should do.

1. Check yourself for injuries. If you are able to do so, move yourself and bicycle out of harms way;
2. Similar to a car accident, collect as much information as you can from or about the other involved parties;
3. File accident reports; and
4. Hire an attorney to help you navigate the insurance and possible litigation process

A quick word about accident reports. Massachusetts law requires an accident report for any motor vehicle accident that results in injury to any involved party, or property damage in excess of $1,000. Also, the report must be filed within five (5) days of the accident. The Massachusetts RMV’s website has downloaded accident report forms and you can also pick one up at any police station. It is also best practice to make at least four (4) copies of the report; 1) mail the original to the RMV; 2) submit one to the police department in the place where the accident occurred; 3) keep one to submit to the other party’s insurance company; and 4) keep one for your own records.

Given the likely severity of injuries, the presence of insurance companies, and the timelines required for a necessary accident report, it is in your interest to hire a personal injury lawyer who can help represent your best interests.