Allstate America’s fifth annual ranking of U.S. cities for safe driving puts Austin in a familiar position – far behind almost everyone else.

According to the study, Austin finished 179th out of 193 cities ranked.

On average, the Austin-area driver will have an accident once every seven years.  In 2005, the study’s first year, Austin ranked 176th of 196 cities, with a wreck every 7.5 years for the average driver.

The national average, based on accident claims made in 2006 and 2007 against Allstate insurance policies in which there was property damage, was an accident about once in 10.1 years.