Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 85% of American workers drove to work on a daily basis. This commute, which for some takes the better part of an hour each way, can be stressful. The typical American commuter spends about 54 hours a year waiting in traffic, spending over $1,000 in wasted fuel and lost time, according to a recent report. And with tens of thousands of traffic fatalities in America each year, daily commutes can be dangerous.
While traffic problems can occur anywhere, there are certain major American cities where gridlock, accidents, long commutes, and high gas prices make driving especially frustrating.
24/7 Wall St. created an index composed of several driving-related measures from the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Texas A&M’s Transportation Institute, and more, to identify the worst metropolitan statistical areas for drivers. The components of the index — which include average commute time, regional gas prices, drunk driving death rates, overall driving fatality rates, time and money lost due to congestion, and auto theft rates — were selected to capture an area’s safety, convenience, and cost of driving.
The 50 worst cities to drive in are spread out among 16 states, with 31 located in the South, 18 in the West, and just one in the Midwest. California has by far the most cities on this list, at 11, followed by Texas with seven. Alabama and Florida are tied with five cities apiece.
In addition to paying for gas and insurance, drivers also have to handle repairs and routine maintenance. The roads these cars drive on also need routine maintenance, yet many major roads, highways, and bridges have fallen into disrepair across the country. This declining infrastructure can damage cars and even pose a threat to the safety of drivers and their passengers. These are the states that are falling apart.
Click here to see the 50 worst cities to drive in.
Click here to see our methodology.
50. Tucson, AZ
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 11.9 (state: 13.9)
> Avg. commute time: 25.1 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 52.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-10
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49. Memphis, TN-MS-AR
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 18.8 (state: 15.2)
> Avg. commute time: 24.8 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: N/A
> Most dangerous road: I-40
48. Oklahoma City, OK
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 12.6 (state: 16.6)
> Avg. commute time: 23.7 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 50.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: US-62
47. Colorado Springs, CO
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 11.5 (state: 11.0)
> Avg. commute time: 24.5 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 43.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-25
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46. Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 18.5 (state: 19.4)
> Avg. commute time: N/A
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: N/A
> Most dangerous road: SR-21
45. El Centro, CA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 20.4 (state: 9.0)
> Avg. commute time: 23.7 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: N/A
> Most dangerous road: I-8
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44. Spartanburg, SC
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 22.5 (state: 20.1)
> Avg. commute time: 23.9 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 26.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-85
43. Mobile, AL
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 17.8 (state: 19.4)
> Avg. commute time: 24.9 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 28.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-65
42. Tulsa, OK
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 14.3 (state: 16.6)
> Avg. commute time: 22.2 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 46.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-44
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41. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 10.2 (state: 12.6)
> Avg. commute time: 27.4 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 51.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-10
40. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 7.3 (state: 9.8)
> Avg. commute time: 27.5 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 60.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-94
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39. Merced, CA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 19.8 (state: 9.0)
> Avg. commute time: 31.1 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 14.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-5
38. Jacksonville, FL
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 14.0 (state: 14.6)
> Avg. commute time: 27.3 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 44.9 hours
> Most dangerous road: US-90
37. Tuscaloosa, AL
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 21.0 (state: 19.4)
> Avg. commute time: 24.3 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 30.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-59
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36. Birmingham-Hoover, AL
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 16.9 (state: 19.4)
> Avg. commute time: 28.1 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 40.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-65
35. Bakersfield, CA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 16.0 (state: 9.0)
> Avg. commute time: 24.2 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 23.6 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-5
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34. Texarkana, TX-AR
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 20.1 (state: 12.6)
> Avg. commute time: N/A
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: N/A
> Most dangerous road: US-71-040
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33. Ocala, FL
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 23.0 (state: 14.6)
> Avg. commute time: 25.7 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 24.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: SR-40
32. Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 27.7 (state: 19.4)
> Avg. commute time: N/A
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 26.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: SR-20
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31. Farmington, NM
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 26.6 (state: 18.6)
> Avg. commute time: N/A
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 12.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: US-550
30. Charleston-North Charleston, SC
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 15.3 (state: 20.1)
> Avg. commute time: 27.6 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: N/A
> Most dangerous road: US-17
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29. Yuba City, CA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 26.2 (state: 9.0)
> Avg. commute time: 27.9 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 20.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: SR-99
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28. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 7.9 (state: 8.3)
> Avg. commute time: 31.7 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 59.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-695
27. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 13.1 (state: 14.6)
> Avg. commute time: 30.2 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 52.7 hours
> Most dangerous road: US-441
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26. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 4.5 (state: 9.0)
> Avg. commute time: 35.2 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 44.8 hours
> Most dangerous road: US-101
25. Alexandria, LA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 22.4 (state: 16.5)
> Avg. commute time: 27.9 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 27.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: US-71
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24. Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 9.4 (state: 9.0)
> Avg. commute time: 28.2 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 56.9 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-5
23. Homosassa Springs, FL
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 24.7 (state: 14.6)
> Avg. commute time: N/A
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: N/A
> Most dangerous road: SR-44
22. Longview, TX
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 28.6 (state: 12.6)
> Avg. commute time: 24.1 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 29.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-20
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21. New Orleans-Metairie, LA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 10.8 (state: 16.5)
> Avg. commute time: 26.5 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 54.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-10
20. Austin-Round Rock, TX
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 10.2 (state: 12.6)
> Avg. commute time: 27.7 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 64.2 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-35
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19. Lake Charles, LA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 17.2 (state: 16.5)
> Avg. commute time: N/A
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 32.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-10
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18. Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 11.5 (state: 15.2)
> Avg. commute time: 28.5 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 58.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-24
17. Columbia, SC
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 18.8 (state: 20.1)
> Avg. commute time: 25.1 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 44.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-20
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16. Pueblo, CO
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 21.4 (state: 11.0)
> Avg. commute time: 21.9 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 20.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-25
15. San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 7.6 (state: 9.0)
> Avg. commute time: 27.2 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 64.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-8
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14. Modesto, CA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 15.1 (state: 9.0)
> Avg. commute time: 31.7 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 29.8 hours
> Most dangerous road: SR-99
13. Albuquerque, NM
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 15.0 (state: 18.6)
> Avg. commute time: 24.4 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 41.1 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-25
12. Anchorage, AK
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 12.1 (state: 10.9)
> Avg. commute time: 23.1 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 42.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: SR-3 PARKS HWY
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11. Stockton-Lodi, CA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 14.0 (state: 9.0)
> Avg. commute time: 36.3 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 33.7 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-5
10. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 12.5 (state: 9.0)
> Avg. commute time: 34.7 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 37.6 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-80
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9. Midland, TX
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 32.3 (state: 12.6)
> Avg. commute time: N/A
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 22.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: SR-191
8. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 11.5 (state: 14.6)
> Avg. commute time: 30.3 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 69.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-95
7. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 6.2 (state: 9.0)
> Avg. commute time: 30.3 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 81.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: US-101
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6. Florence, SC
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 30.7 (state: 20.1)
> Avg. commute time: N/A
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 27.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: US-52
5. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 8.4 (state: 12.6)
> Avg. commute time: 30.7 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 73.3 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-45
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4. Baton Rouge, LA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 20.7 (state: 16.5)
> Avg. commute time: 27.2 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 58.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: US-61
3. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 5.6 (state: 7.2)
> Avg. commute time: 31.6 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 75.5 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-5
2. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 11.7 (state: 14.2)
> Avg. commute time: 32.5 mins.
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 76.3 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-75
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1. Odessa, TX
> 2018 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people: 33.7 (state: 12.6)
> Avg. commute time: N/A
> 2017 hours lost due to congestion per car: 31.0 hours
> Most dangerous road: I-20
Methodology
To identify the worst cities to drive in every state, 24/7 Wall St. created an index based on measures of safety, cost, and the convenience of driving, normalized to be comparable with one another. Total traffic fatalities and traffic fatalities involving drunk drivers per 100,000 are from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) for 2018. Mean travel time to work and the percentage of the working-age population with a commute of 60 minutes or longer came from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2019 1-year estimates. The rate of car thefts per 100,000 people is from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) Hot Spots report for the year 2018. The average price of gasoline from second quarter of 2017 to second quarter of 2018 is from the Council for Community and Economic Research’s (C2ER) cost of living index for metropolitan statistical areas. Hours lost due to congestion per car came from the Texas A&M 2019 Urban Mobility Report, which features data from 2017.
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