Planning to buy a new car? You might want to check out this list of worst U.S. cities to own a car.
According to a recent study by SmartAsset.com, a financial technology company, Newark, New Jersey is the worst city in the nation to own a car because of its bumper-to-bumper traffic, where 5 million drive to work. Also, the risk of having your car stolen in Newmark is much higher than in other cities. In fact, it ranked eighth for motor vehicle thefts per 1,000 residents.
The other worst cities include: (1) San Francisco, California; (2) Washington, D.C.; (3) Oakland, California; (4) Arlington, Virginia; (5) Portland, Oregon; (6) Anaheim, California; (7) New York, New York; (8) Seattle, Washington, and; (10) Boston, Massachusetts.
In order to come up with the list, SmartAsset.com looked at seven factors, including average total hours commuters spend in traffic per year, cost of time spent in traffic per person, commuter stress index, non-driving options, motor vehicle thefts per 1,000 residents, number of repair shops per 10,000 drivers, and parking garages per 10,000 drivers.
You may view the key findings of the study and the entire list here.
Statistics
- It was in 2015 when U.S. had the highest one-year percentage increase in traffic deaths in half a century. It was considered the deadliest year on U.S. roads since 2008.
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrian deaths increased to 10 percent in 2015 and bicyclist deaths 13 percent – more than other types of road victims.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on the other hand, said that U.S. has the highest car crash death rate among high-income countries. In 2013, over 32,000 people were killed on U.S. roads or approximately 90 fatalities a day.
Tips When Buying Cars
As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I know everyone wants to own their dream car. We cannot deny the fact that it is a significant investment and you should really consider various factors before deciding which one to buy. Also, you have the option of buying a brand new car or used one. There’s no problem with choosing the latter, as long as it is still in good condition. When purchasing a used car, be sure to review the car’s history and perform a test drive.
SmartAsset.com’s list of worst U.S. cities to own a car may or may not discourage you in buying one. But the bottom line is this – whatever car you own and drive, be a responsible driver. Always buckle up, drive sober, and stay focused on the road.