Top 10 Worst Cities to Drive In: 2017
If you live in California, you won’t be surprised to learn that driving there continues to be terrible.
To determine the best and worst cities to drive in, WalletHub analyzed and compared the 100 largest cities across 25 key indicators of driver-friendliness. Each city received a total score based on four key dimensions: cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure, safety, and access to vehicles and maintenance. Within each category, there were metrics graded on a 100-point scale ranging from the cost of a new car and average gas price to the number of days with rain and the traffic fatality rate per 100,000 people.
SEE ALSO: The Most Expensive City in the World to Park is No Surprise
Here are the top 10 worst cities to drive in, according to WalletHub’s study.
10. Los Angeles, California
Residents of Los Angeles, California, won’t be surprised to see their city on the list, but might be surprised to hear it’s not the worst. L.A. ranked 99 on cost of ownership and maintenance, 90 on traffic and infrastructure, 65 on safety, and 10 on access to vehicles and maintenance. The city had a total score of 42.16. Los Angeles also gets mentioned for tying in last place for highest annual hours spent in congestion per auto commuter and was 97th place for highest accident likelihood in the city versus the national average.
9. Baltimore, Maryland
With a total score of 40.83, Baltimore is next on the list. The city ranked 68 on cost of ownership and maintenance, 85 on traffic and infrastructure, 96 on safety, and 66 on access to vehicles and maintenance. Baltimore also tied in 98 for highest accident likelihood in the city versus the national average.
8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia managed a total score of 40.14, after ranking 93 in cost of ownership and maintenance, 86 on traffic and infrastructure, 80 in safety, and 29 on access to vehicles and maintenance. The city also ranked 96 in highest accident likelihood in the city versus the national average and was has one of the highest parking rates in the country.
7. Honolulu, Hawaii
Only New York beats Honolulu when it comes to highest auto maintenance costs. The city has a total score of 38.77, ranking 92 in cost of ownership and maintenance, 92 in traffic and infrastructure, 68 in safety, and 85 in access to vehicles and maintenance.
6. Boston, Massachusetts
Tied for worst in highest accident likelihood in the city versus the national average is Boston, which also ranked worst for fewest auto repair shops per capita. The city also got recognized for the fewest car washes per capita, has the highest parking rates, and ranked 97 for highest auto maintenance costs. Boston ranked 78 in cost of ownership and maintenance, 100 in traffic and infrastructure, 53 in safety, and 97 in access to vehicles and maintenance.
5. Seattle, Washington
Seattle receives honors for tying in second worst in most days with precipitation, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to residents. Seattle also ranked 96 highest auto maintenance costs. The city had a total score of 37.65, ranking 95 in cost of ownership and maintenance, 95 in traffic and infrastructure, 71 in safety, and 57 in access to vehicles and maintenance.
4. Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital is also one of the worst cities to drive in, finishing with a total score of 36.85. The city ranked 73 in cost of ownership and maintenance, 97 in traffic and infrastructure, 91 in safety, and 71 in access to vehicles and maintenance. It also tied for worst in highest annual hours spent in congestion per auto commuter, as well as highest accident likelihood in the city versus the national average. Washington, D.C. was also the fourth-worst city when it comes to highest parking rates.
3. Detroit, Michigan
Home of “The Big Three,” Detroit had a total score of 36.42 in the study. The city ranked 89 in cost of ownership and maintenance, 91 in traffic and infrastructure, 94 in safety, and 32 in access to vehicles and maintenance.
2. Oakland, California
Oakland is the second-worst city to drive in, with a total score of 36.37. It ranks 98 in cost of ownership and maintenance, 80 in traffic and infrastructure, 90 in safety, and 73 in access to vehicles and maintenance. Oakland also ties for highest car theft rate in the nation and is second worst when it comes to highest average gas prices.
1. San Francisco, California
The worst city in America to drive in is San Francisco, California. With a total score of 29.46, the city also ranked worst in cost of ownership and maintenance, 93 in traffic and infrastructure, 98 in safety, and 77 in access to vehicles and maintenance. It also ties for highest annual hours spent in congestion per auto commuter and has the highest average gas prices.
[Source: WalletHub]
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
More by Jason Siu
Comments
Join the conversation
Driving in Philly today. My blood pressure is about 140/90 and about 90 bpm. There is no word in any language in the known universe that can even come close to describing just how much I hate this city. Not only do the people drive like sh*t, but the people walk around like zombies with their faces stuck in their smart phones without a care in the world and not one ounce of a sense of urgency. As bad as D.C. is to drive in, I'd take that place any day over this third world hellhole. Thank God I'm from Pittsburgh!
when it comes to CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE and DERELICTION of DUTY THE STUPID STATE OF N.Y. and SODOM>NYC IS THE INFRASTRUCTURAL TOILET BOWL OF AMERICA.I asked the syncophant at the WHOREHOUSE IN MORNINGSIDE HTS. LOOK when was the last time YOUR STUPID STATE even BUILT BUILT a major monumental BRIDGE ? Need a hint ? Go back to the FIRST WORLD TOUR OF THE BEATLES AT SHEA STADIUM !!!NO WONDER N.Y. IS THE INFRASTRUCTURAL TOILET BOWL OF AMERICA. THE average speed of a TAXI in MANHATTAN now NOW stooge NOW in a POST-BLOOMBERG SODOM is a Blazing 4.7 MPH ! THE STUPID STATE OF N.Y. led by its back-stabbing WHOREMONGERING SPINELESS treacherous AUTOCRATIC PLUTOCRATIC GODLESS GOV Nelson ROCKEFELLER REBUFFED THE GREATEST MASTER MAMMOTH BUILDER and ENGINEERING GENIUS since the 18 th DYNASTY of PHARAONIC EGYPT >ROBERT MOSES and instead the BOOTLESS BLASPHEMOUS BENIGHTED capitol in ALBANY SUCCUMBED to the SIREN SONGS of the POST MENOPASUAL SLUT who HATED CARS jane jacobs and the GERIATRIC WEASEL robert caro who still lives in SODOM on 95 th STREET and works part time for the NOXIOUS N.Y. TIMES a paper i reserve for the PARAKEET CAGE .ACTUALLY to BUILD anything SPEEDILY in the stupid state one MUST have a PENAL PURPOSE >ELECT A CUOMO and BUILD A JAIL IN SULLIVAN COUNTY !I-95 BRONX-N.H. CONN. has degenerated into the ACELDAMA ! Not familar with this ancient SEMITIC word ? This was the CURSED place where JUDAS ISCARIOT hung himself and his entrails gushed out on the CURSED ground !