California ranked as the worst state in the country for drivers for the second year in a row, according to a new report by Bankrate.com.
The Golden State came in last due to a high percentage of roads in poor condition, long commute times and high rates of theft and fatal crashes.
In general, coastal states fared worst and states in the Midwest and Great Plains did best, according to the annual report released Wednesday by the New York-based financial services firm. California also ranked last in Bankrate’s 2017 report.
Hawaii, Connecticut, New Jersey and Washington were the other states in the bottom five this year.
North Dakota ranked first for drivers due to low car repair costs, low auto insurance premiums and high safety scores. Iowa, Ohio, Minnesota and Nebraska rounded out the top five.
“Most of us are still getting behind the wheel every day, but what driving costs in both time and money varies widely depending on where we live,” said Adrian Garcia, data analyst for Bankrate.com.
“In areas where commute times are long and car ownership costs are high, it may make more sense to skip the luxury of your own vehicle and opt for public transportation, a carpool or a bike ride to work,” Garcia added.
Bankrate’s analysis suggested the poor state of California’s roads may be the reason voters declined to repeal the gas tax increase in November.
