Study: Oregon is the best place in U.S. to drive

With U.S. traffic congestion costing the average driver over $1,400 per year and the U.S. ranked 10 th in the world in road quality, the personal-finance website WalletHub on Tuesday released its report on 2019’s Best & Worst States to Drive in — and Oregon took the top ranking.

To determine the most driver-friendly states in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 50 states across 30 key metrics. The data set ranges from average gas prices to share of rush-hour traffic congestion to road quality.

Driving in Oregon (1=Best; 25=Avg.):

15 th – Share of Rush-Hour Traffic Congestion 24 th – Traffic Fatality Rate 24 th – Auto-Repair Shops per Capita 1 st – Auto-Maintenance Costs 3 rd – Road Quality

Oregon’s No. 1 ranking for driving came despite not making the Top 10 in four overall areas. Oregon was highest, No. 11, in traffic and infrastructure, 15th in safety, 22nd in cost of ownership and maintenance and 23rd in access to vehicles and maintenance. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Texas rounded out the top 5.

Among other factors where Oregon was near the top – or bottom, the state was found to have the fifth-highest car theft rate and tied for fifth in the highest average gas prices. But it was also found to have the lowest auto maintenance costs in all the land.

For the full report, including methodology, visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-to-drive-in/43012/