Driving in the U.S. and the PIA Western Alliance States

In 2025 traffic congestion cost the average driver in the U.S. about $894. Spinning that traffic facts a bit more, the average person spends 49 hours a year stuck in traffic. When considering traffic congestion issues, the United States has 10 of the 25 worst cities in the world.

Most of us complain about road conditions. In some places conditions are very good and in other places, pot holes and tire and shock busting damage to roads is causing serious damage to our expensive to drive vehicles.

The World Economic Forum says the United States ranks 17th out of 141 countries for road conditions.

WalletHub’s Chip Lupo said his firm took a long look at the 50 states and ranked them according to driving conditions. It used 31 key indicators going from the price of gas to road quality to congestion at rush hour.

“Owning a car can really squeeze your wallet if you’re not in the right location. On top of having pricey gas, maintenance and insurance expenses, some states can hurt you even more financially with excessive traffic congestion, which wastes both your fuel and your productivity,” Lupo said. “The best states to drive in are ones that are relatively rural, with smaller populations, a low cost of living, well-maintained roads and safe motorists.”

These are the worst states for driving and driving conditions. The top four worst states are the PIA Western Alliance states of Hawaii, Washington, Montana and California. The PIA Western Alliance state of Nevada also sits in the top-10 worst at number 42.

50. Hawaii — total score: 43.34

Rank for cost of ownership and maintenance: 49

Rank for traffic infrastructure: 39

Safety rank: 4

Rank to access to vehicles and maintenance: 46

49: Washington — total score: 44.07

Rank for cost of ownership and maintenance: 48

Rank for traffic infrastructure: 39

Safety rank: 26

Rank to access to vehicles and maintenance: 14

48. Montana — total score: 47.12

Rank for cost of ownership and maintenance: 47

Rank for traffic infrastructure: 3

Safety rank: 48

Rank to access to vehicles and maintenance: 42

47. California — total score: 47.67

Rank for cost of ownership and maintenance: 50

Rank for traffic infrastructure: 38

Safety rank: 15

Rank to access to vehicles and maintenance: 1

46. Maryland

45. Colorado

44. Missouri

43. New Hampshire

42. Nevada — total score: 52.80

Rank for cost of ownership and maintenance: 44

Rank for traffic infrastructure: 15

Safety rank: 17

Rank to access to vehicles and maintenance: 37

41. Pennsylvania

The rest of the PIA Western Alliance states

39. Alaska — total score: 53.35

Rank for cost of ownership and maintenance: 45

Rank for traffic infrastructure: 16

Safety rank: 1

Rank to access to vehicles and maintenance: 50

36. Oregon — total score: 54.46

Rank for cost of ownership and maintenance: 46

Rank for traffic infrastructure: 12

Safety rank: 16

Rank to access to vehicles and maintenance: 24

28. Arizona — total score: 56.87

Rank for cost of ownership and maintenance: 37

Rank for traffic infrastructure: 23

Safety rank: 13

Rank to access to vehicles and maintenance: 25

26. New Mexico — total score: 57.40

Rank for cost of ownership and maintenance: 21

Rank for traffic infrastructure: 5

Safety rank: 45

Rank to access to vehicles and maintenance: 41

20. Idaho — total score: 58.38

Rank for cost of ownership and maintenance: 33

Rank for traffic infrastructure: 6

Safety rank: 22

Rank to access to vehicles and maintenance: 45

California has the worst rush hour traffic congestion in the country.

When it comes to precipitation, or the lack of, the PIA Western Alliance state of California is number one followed by Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. The most rain falls in New Hampshire followed by the PIA Western Alliance states of Hawaii and Alaska.

Hawaii sits at 49 and Alaska is 46th.

Car thefts are more prevalent in the West than the Midwest, East or South. The PIA Western Alliance state of New Mexico tops the nation in auto thefts. Other PIA Western Alliance states with the most auto thefts are Nevada, Washington and California ranked 48, 47 and 46 respectively.

The five states in the nation with the highest gas prices are the PIA Western Alliance states of California at 50, Hawaii sitting at 49, Washington is 48th, Oregon 47th and Nevada rounds out the top five states with the highest gas prices.

All are in the PIA Western Alliance.

These are the safest, and easiest to drive in, states. None are in the PIA Western Alliance.

1. Vermont

2. Iowa

3. Kansas

4. Nebraska

5. Indiana

6. Florida

7. Alabama

8. Tennessee

9. North Carolina

10. Minnesota

Source link: WalletHub — https://bit.ly/4rdpdrg