Photo: kozmoat98 / iStock / Getty Images
I'm sure this won't come as a shock, but it confirms what we all probably assume: A new study by WalletHub, a personal finance website, ranked Rhode Island and Massachusetts among the worst states in the nation for driving.
The study compared all 50 states across 31 key indicators of a positive driving experience, such as traffic congestion, gas prices, road quality, safety, and access to vehicles and maintenance. Rhode Island ranked 8th worst overall, while Massachusetts was 6th worst.
One of the main reasons for the low rankings was the poor condition of the roads. Rhode Island had the highest percentage of roads in poor shape, while Massachusetts had the third highest. Both states also scored poorly on traffic and infrastructure, with long commute times and high tolls.
However, the study also found some positive aspects of driving in the two states. Rhode Island ranked 1st in driver safety, while Massachusetts was 4th. The study measured safety by factors such as seatbelt use, fatality rate, car theft rate, and DUI arrests. Both states also had low car ownership costs, thanks to low insurance premiums and vehicle property taxes.
The best state to drive in, according to the study, was Iowa, followed by Tennessee and North Carolina. The worst state was Hawaii, followed by California and Washington. The full report and methodology can be found on WalletHub’s website1.