How North Carolina Ranks Among 2020’s Best States For Drivers

CHARLOTTE, NC — Traffic congestion cost U.S. motorists an estimated $87 billion in 2018, so it’s no wonder why some drivers may want to ditch the bottlenecking in one state for a smooth, steady commute in another.

A new study could help you make that decision. WalletHub recently released its 2020 list of the most driver-friendly states in the U.S. To rank the cities, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 31 key metrics ranging from average gas prices to share of rush-hour traffic congestion and road quality.

North Carolina came in near the top of the list with an overall ranking of third best in the nation when it comes to driving.

To determine a state’s overall ranking, WalletHub used 31 relevant metrics and graded states on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the best for drivers. Finally, WalletHub determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score.

North Carolina’s overall state ranking was calculated by averaging the same metrics, including rankings in the following categories:

• Cost of Ownership & Maintenance Rank: No. 8
• Traffic & Infrastructure Rank: No. 29
• Safety Rank: No. 21
• Access To Vehicles & Maintenance Rank: No. 11

Coming in at the top of the list of best states for drivers was Iowa, with an overall score of 64.44. Rounding out the top 10 were:

1. Iowa
2. Tennessee
3. North Carolina
4. Texas
5. Nebraska
6. Georgia
7. Virginia
8. Indiana
9. Arkansas
10. Alabama

The worst state for driving was Hawaii, followed by Rhode Island and Washington state.

Mississippi has the lowest share of rush-hour traffic congestion at 17 percent, five times lower than in California, the state with the highest at 85 percent. Gas prices also are least expensive in Mississippi, while Hawaii has the highest gas prices. Also, Maine has the lowest car insurance rates, while Michigan has the highest.

Experts say that to improve the safety, condition and congestion on roads, there needs to be cooperation between drivers, lawmakers and private industries, according to the study.