Driving in heavy traffic is no fun. Whether you’re stuck because of rush hour or a car accident, it’s a recipe for frustration. Anyone who has driven in Seattle knows how crowded and slow driving in Washington State’s largest city can be. Apart from traffic levels, there are other factors that go into whether a state is good to drive in, including the cost of car insurance, weather, condition of the roads, population density, property crime, and rural versus urban makeup. These factors affect road safety and traffic accident rates, commute times, and affordability. Each year, WalletHub takes these factors into consideration to rank all 50 states from the best to the worst for drivers.
It probably doesn’t come as a big shock to Washingtonians that Washington has, once again, come in as one of the worst states to drive in the nation, according to 31 key indicators analyzed by WalletHub. In fact, we are second to last in the 2023 report.
If you or a loved one was injured in a motor vehicle accident in Washington State, you can benefit from the help of an experienced Washington car accident lawyer. The injury lawyer can discuss your legal rights and calculate the true value of your accident claim. If you decide to work together, they will walk you through each stage of the claims process and be a tireless advocate for a full and fair settlement.
Washington Ranked Second Worst State to Drive in WalletHub’s 2023 Report
Washington State was ranked 49th out of 50 states in the 2023 report, bumping us even further down the list from 2022 when we were in 45th place. Why does Washington State rank so poorly year after year? The two main reasons that Washington is not considered a good state to drive in are the “Cost of Ownership & Maintenance” (#47) and “Traffic & Infrastructure” (#39). Washington State is in the top five states for highest gas prices (#47) and highest automotive maintenance costs (#47) and doesn’t fall into the top 5 states for any positive metrics including, most car washes per capita, most auto-repair shops per capita, lowest car theft rate, fewest days with precipitation, or lowest percentage of rush-hour traffic congestion.
Methodology
WalletHub completes this analysis every year to help drivers identify the states that provide the best commuting conditions. All 50 states were compared across four key dimensions: 1) Cost of Ownership & Maintenance, 2) Traffic & Infrastructure, 3) Safety and 4) Access to Vehicles & Maintenance.
Each dimension was evaluated using 31 relevant metrics. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the best for drivers.
Finally, each state’s weighted average is calculated across all metrics to reach each overall score.
Washington State accident statistics
As reported by axios.com, traffic fatalities were set to hit a 25-year high in 2022 with 600 traffic fatalities reported by the end of October. This was after a grim year in 2021 as well. The last time we had more than 600 traffic fatalities in a single year was in 1996 when Washington State recorded 712 crash deaths. Speeding, which is often accompanied by drunk or impaired driving, is considered the main culprit for the increase in traffic fatalities in the last couple of years.
Seek the help of a car accident attorney
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
