Study Ranks Best and Worst States for Drivers

The nation's top potato-producing state is also the most preferable place for peeling out. Yes, according to a just-released study by finance rate aggregator Bankrate.com, the Gem State is the crown jewel among the best states for drivers. Researchers ranked all 50 states for their driver friendliness, measured by factors including the number of fatal crashes and car thefts, average commute times, gas prices, repair costs and auto-insurance premiums.

Related: How Rude! Discourteous Drivers Ranked by State

Idaho rose to the top of the heap thanks to its low gas and insurance costs, below-average theft rates and brisk commute times, Bankrate reported. Compared with the national average commute of 24.4 minutes each way, insurance premiums of $910.17 per year, gas spending of $949 per year, repair costs of $390.38 per job, 220.7 car thefts per 100,000 people and 1.1 fatal crashes per 100 million miles driven, Idaho boasted a 19.5-minute commute, $656.08 insurance premium, $733.06 gas expenditure, $378.66 repair bill, 95.3 car thefts and 1.3 fatal crashes.

Generally speaking, a common factor among the best states for drivers was a lesser population size and density. In the top five, Idaho was joined by Vermont, Wyoming, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

"The best states for drivers have lots of wide-open spaces, whereas the worst states tend to be filled with people and cars — a bad combination for drivers' wallets," said Bankrate researcher and statistics analyst Chris Kahn, in a statement.

Indeed, the top 10 most-driver-friendly states have an average population of only 2.3 million residents according to U.S. Census Bureau figures, and eight are among the 25 least-densely populated states. That's compared with the top 10 least-driver-friendly states, which have an average population of 12.5 million, with nine of the 10 falling in the 25 most-densely populated.

The dubious distinction of least-driver-friendly state goes to Louisiana, which researchers dinged for having the highest car insurance costs in the U.S. as well as above-average crash fatalities. Louisiana drivers face a 24.7-minute commute, $1,279.42 insurance premium, $1,017.10 gas expenditure, $426.25 repair bill, 198 car thefts and 1.5 fatal crashes. It joins California, Texas, Maryland and New Jersey as the five least-driver-friendly states.

We feel compelled to note that despite being held in the highest regard among the best states for motorists, Idahoans aren't always seen in such a flattering light. A year ago, Insure.com ranked Idaho as the state with the rudest drivers. "The roadways of Idaho present a dichotomy of drivers: those who are moving so slowly that they're judged to be rude, and the aggressive drivers who speed around them and flip them off," Insure.com reported at the time.

See where your state ranks among best and worst for drivers below:

Best States for Drivers

1. Idaho

2. Vermont

3. Wyoming

4. Wisconsin

5. Minnesota

6. Maine

7. Iowa

8. Nebraska

9. South Dakota

10. New Hampshire

11. Alaska

12. Indiana

13. North Carolina

14. Utah

15. Kansas

16. Illinois

17. Montana

18. Ohio

19. Virginia

20. Massachusetts

21. Michigan

22. Rhode Island

23. North Dakota

24. Pennsylvania

25. Oklahoma

Worst States for Drivers

1. Louisiana

2. California

3. Texas

4. Maryland

5. New Jersey

6. Delaware

7. Georgia

8. New York

9. Hawaii

10. Washington

11. Nevada

12. Arizona

13. Alabama

14. West Virginia

15. Arkansas

16. Connecticut

17. South Carolina

18. Missouri

19. Florida

20. New Mexico

21. Oregon

22. Kentucky

23. Colorado

24. Tennessee

25. Mississippi



from Cars.com News http://ift.tt/1Ixw2Wx

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