WASHINGTON — Drivers sitting in Washington-area traffic at least have some bragging rights: The nation’s capital comes in at number two on NerdWallet’s “Worst Cities for Car Drivers” list.
D.C. just missed the top mark awarded to Boston and its miserable driving experiences of historic proportions.
NerdWallet analyzed the following factors based on a points system and an awarded overall score to determine the worst ratings:
- How bad and long are the delays?
- How congested is the city during peak commute times?
- How’s the weather? (Poor weather conditions often lend to driving dangers and delays.)
- How available is parking?
- How much does car insurance cost annually?
- How expensive is the gas?
- Is there a higher chance for an accident compared with the national average?
Top 10 worst cities for car drivers and why
- Boston: Among all of the cities NerdWallet surveyed, drivers in Boston face the greatest likelihood of an accident.
- Washington, D.C.: Compared with other major cities, D.C. drivers waste the most time in delays: 67 hours each year.
- Los Angeles: Drivers endure an average of 61 hours of delays each year, and L.A. interstates, including the 110 and the 405, are notorious for bumper-to-bumper traffic.
- Miami: In addition to major traffic during peak hours, car owners pay an average of $1,750.10 for auto insurance annually, 59 percent more than the average U.S. driver.
- Chicago: Parking can be sparse in the Windy City, with only 0.77 parking lots or garages for every 1,000 commuter vehicles.
- San Francisco: Drivers waste a significant amount of time in traffic: 61 hours each year. The City by the Bay also touts a high rate of auto theft.
- Philadelphia: This city saw 113 days of precipitation in 2012. Drivers are 61.2 percent more likely to get into an accident here than in other U.S. cities.
- Seattle: Seattle’s frequent rainy weather creates a dangerous driving environment with slick roads and poor visibility.
- Detroit: Although the Motor City makes a lot of cars, there’s nowhere to park them. Detroit has the lowest parking availability on the list.
- New York City: The Big Apple is the nation’s most populated city and its streets bear the brunt. Car owners spend $1,614.71 annually on car insurance, $500 above the national average.
