WalletHub has released 2019's Best And Worst States To Drive In report.
But, that factors in the entire Lone Star State.
Wallet Hub's Jill Gonzalez said it's our low cost of gas that really pushed the state's ranking up. Texans take for granted the low cost of gas—one of the lowest in the country. Other states pay three times what Texans do for gas.
"It could do much better when it comes to rush hour traffic congestion," said Gonzalez.
Houstonians know what it's really like to drive here, when we talked to men and women during lunch in the Galleria area.
“Horrible commute.”
“My commute hasn’t changed in 30 years, it’s been an hour, hour and a half.”
“Horrible. It’s 30 miles and it takes me usually about an hour and 15 to get to work.”
“I come from Spring, and the average is about 50 minutes in the morning. It depends on what time I leave,” said one man. “In the afternoon, it can go anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. It just depends. The worst part is from here to I-45.”
“It’s good because I leave early enough to get here, so I don’t have to deal with the traffic. But, if I leave late, then it’s a problem,” said one woman. “When I get in the Galleria area, that’s where it starts backing up. The Chimney Rock area.”
Iowa and Idaho had a better commute. California and Maryland were worse than Houston.
To determine the most driver-friendly states in the nation, WalletHub compared the 50 states from data on average gas prices and rush-hour traffic congestion to road quality.
Driving in Texas (1=Best; 25=Avg.):
* 2nd – Car Dealerships per Capita
* 4th – Avg. Gas Prices
* 6th – Auto-Repair Shops per Capita
* 23rd – Auto-Maintenance Costs
* 30th – Share of Rush-Hour Traffic Congestion
* 30th – Traffic Fatality Rate
* 30th – Car Theft Rate