Report: R.I. 20th best state for drivers

RHODE ISLAND IS the 20th best state for drivers, according to Bankrate.com. / COURTESY BANKRATE.COM/GETTY IMAGES
RHODE ISLAND IS the 20th best state for drivers, according to Bankrate.com. / COURTESY BANKRATE.COM/GETTY IMAGES

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island is the 20th best state for drivers, according to Bankrate.com.
The financial website on Tuesday said it evaluated all 50 states on factors that affect drivers – commute time, annual insurance premiums, gas expenditure, cost of car repairs, car thefts and auto fatalities.
Iowa received first place due to its low insurance premiums, short commute times and less expensive auto repair costs. Ohio, Maine, Wisconsin and Vermont round out the top five states for drivers.

California received the lowest scores of all 50 states for high average auto repairs and car thefts, as well as lengthy commute times for drivers. New Mexico, Nevada, Louisiana and Wyoming comprise the bottom five states.

According to the website, Rhode Islanders have an average commute time of 24.7 minutes, annual insurance costs total $1,157, annual gasoline spending is $819 and average repairs cost $417. There are 131.5 car thefts per 100,000 people, and 0.7 percent auto fatalities per 100,000 miles driven.

“Transportation is the second-highest cost many households face, but that burden doesn’t fall equally across states,” Claes Bell, CFA, an analyst with Bankrate.com, said in a statement. “Americans should take into account their costs for insurance, gas and other factors, as well as safety concerns, when considering their daily travel options.”

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Bankrate.com used data from the federal Bureau of Transportation, Oil Price Information Service, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Insurance Institute of Highway Safety and U.S. Census to compile the rankings.

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