Raleigh, Lincoln, The Best US Cities for Driving, Oakland is the Worst

The study considered a range of factors including fuel prices and theft rates.

While highways and roads cross cities all over the globe, the commute in each city is very different. A new study by WalletHub shows that not all cities are equal when it comes driving. It also provides a guideline on the best and worst cities to drive in.

WalletHub considered many factors when determining the top 100 US cities. These included the cost and maintenance of vehicles, traffic and infrastructure, safety and accessibility to vehicles and maintenance. Another 30 data points were included in those four categories. They looked at accidents per capita, average car insurance costs, quality roads and bridges, safety, congestion time, and access to vehicles and maintenance.

These are the top 10 most desirable cities to drive in:

  1. Raleigh, North Carolina
  2. Lincoln, Nebraska
  3. Greensboro, North Carolina
  4. Winston-Salem (North Carolina)
  5. Corpus Christi, Texas
  6. Boise, Idaho
  7. Jacksonville, Florida
  8. Scottsdale, Arizona
  9. Tampa, Florida
  10. Austin Texas

These are the 10 most dangerous cities to drive in:

  1. Oakland, California
  2. Detroit, Michigan
  3. San Francisco, California
  4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  5. New York, New York
  6. Los Angeles, California
  7. Baltimore, Maryland
  8. Washington, DC
  9. San Bernardino, Californi
  10. San Jose, California

Thanks to all of the data points used, the study made some interesting findings. The study found that drivers spend the least time stuck in traffic congestion in El Paso (Texas), Lubbock (Texas), Toledo, Ohio, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Boston are all at the opposite end. Boise is the least likely place to be in an accident, but it’s worth avoiding LA, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and LA. These cities are all tied for having the highest accident probability.

You’ll be pleased to learn that San Diego, Orlando, and Las Vegas are tied for the most car washes per person. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is home to the highest number of auto-repair shops per head, followed by Lincoln Nebraska and Buffalo New York.

This study serves as a reminder that owning an auto is more than just paying the monthly car bill. Numerous factors influence our driving and ownership experience. Some places are more favorable than others.