Operating a motor vehicle in DC remains a truly awful experience, according to the latest internet ranking of cities by one of those websites that ranks cities along seemingly random metrics. Washington is the second-worst city for drivers, per WalletHub (which also determined recently that Washington is also a terrible place to raise your family).
Of the 100 largest US cities, WalletHub ranked the District in the bottom ten according to traffic and road conditions, safety, and “driver and car wellness.” The first two are mostly straightforward—the American Society of Civil Engineer’s 2013 Infrastructure Report Card found that 95 percent of DC’s major roads are in “poor” condition—but the last metric is a bit wonky, taking into account things like auto-repair shops, car washes, dealerships, and the frequency of car shows. In fact, Washington has the third-fewest number of repair shops per capita, ahead of just Boston and Laredo, Texas.
The District was also found to have the second-highest accident likelihood compared to the national average, a finding that largely matches up with data culled by Allstate. Washington was dead last when it comes to the average number of hours lost to traffic jams. WalletHub cites a report by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute that found the average DC driver loses 67 hours per year to road congestion.
This ranking is at least the second one this year to declare the District the second-worst big city for motorists, but it suggests that the internet is in disagreement with itself. Although WalletHub’s ranking cited many of the same data as one published in May by NerdWallet—another personal-finance website that sorts cities and states according to random qualities—it ranked New York as dead last. NerdWallet put only Boston behind Washington. The only thing that is clear is that even if Washington sucks for driving, it doesn’t suck the most.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Driving in Washington Still Terrible, According to Internet
Operating a motor vehicle in DC remains a truly awful experience, according to the latest internet ranking of cities by one of those websites that ranks cities along seemingly random metrics. Washington is the second-worst city for drivers, per WalletHub (which also determined recently that Washington is also a terrible place to raise your family).
Of the 100 largest US cities, WalletHub ranked the District in the bottom ten according to traffic and road conditions, safety, and “driver and car wellness.” The first two are mostly straightforward—the American Society of Civil Engineer’s 2013 Infrastructure Report Card found that 95 percent of DC’s major roads are in “poor” condition—but the last metric is a bit wonky, taking into account things like auto-repair shops, car washes, dealerships, and the frequency of car shows. In fact, Washington has the third-fewest number of repair shops per capita, ahead of just Boston and Laredo, Texas.
The District was also found to have the second-highest accident likelihood compared to the national average, a finding that largely matches up with data culled by Allstate. Washington was dead last when it comes to the average number of hours lost to traffic jams. WalletHub cites a report by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute that found the average DC driver loses 67 hours per year to road congestion.
This ranking is at least the second one this year to declare the District the second-worst big city for motorists, but it suggests that the internet is in disagreement with itself. Although WalletHub’s ranking cited many of the same data as one published in May by NerdWallet—another personal-finance website that sorts cities and states according to random qualities—it ranked New York as dead last. NerdWallet put only Boston behind Washington. The only thing that is clear is that even if Washington sucks for driving, it doesn’t suck the most.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Most Popular in News & Politics
Every Bus Line in DC Is Changing This Weekend. Here’s What to Know.
8 Takeaways From Usha Vance’s Interview With Meghan McCain
Yet Another Anti-Trump Statue Has Shown Up on the National Mall
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
Bans on Underage Vaping, Swastika Graffiti, Synthetic Dyes: New Virginia Laws Go Into Effect in July
Washingtonian Magazine
July Issue: The "Best Of" Issue
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
Every Bus Line in DC Is Changing This Weekend. Here’s What to Know.
DC Sues More Maryland and DC Drivers
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
MAP: Road Closures for Trump’s Military Parade
More from News & Politics
Speaker Johnson’s Megabill Prayers Likely to Be Answered Before Holiday Weekend, Wrongly Deported Maryland Man Faced Abuse in El Salvador Prison, and We Found Some Yummy Nepalese Food
Pardoned J6er Will Join Ed Martin’s Justice Department Office, Trump Outlines Hypothetical Alligator Escape Plan, and We Have Fireworks Show Recommendations
The “World’s Largest Outdoor Museum” Is Coming to DC. Here’s a Preview.
A Cult Classic of Cannabis Brands Is Making Its DC Debut
The Commanders Wine and Dine DC Council Members; GOP Senator Suggests Tax Language Was “Airdropped” Into Spending Bill; and Trump Wants DOGE to Investigate Musk
100 Reasons to Love DC Right Now
How DC’s Attorney General Got So Good at Double Dutch
DC Council Ponders New Way to Expel Trayon White, the GOP’s Budget Bill Advances, and We Found You Some Tacos With Ethiopian Flair