Bankrate.com: R.I. 22nd best state for drivers

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island is the 22nd best state for drivers, according to Bankrate.com, which noted its low fatal crash rate and below average gasoline expenses.

The only major drawback is high car insurance costs, the consumer financial services company said. Idaho was ranked the best state for drivers and Louisiana, the worst.

Bankrate.com looked at the costs of gasoline, insurance and repairs, as well as statistics on fatal crashes and car thefts, to come up with its results. And, it also studied commuting time. It said it wanted to rate the overall experience for motorists in each state.

For example, Rhode Island drivers have an average commute of 23.6 minutes each way, annual gas costs hover around $800, and car repairs average approximately $390 per job. The number of fatal crashes per 100,000 miles driven number was 0.82, according to Bankrate.com. Insurance costs (representing a five-year average) are $1,142.47.

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In comparison, Idaho has a shorter commute (19 minutes each way), cheaper insurance at $656 and less expensive gasoline at $733. Car thefts were fewer at 95 per 100,000 people, but fatal crashes were higher at 1.34.

Louisiana’s commute time, insurance, gas and repair costs all were higher than in Rhode Island, at 24.7 minutes each way; $1,279; $1,017; and $426, respectively. Fatal crashes also were among the highest in the nation at 1.51 per 100,000 miles driven.
The national average for commuting time was 24.4 minutes each way, with insurance costs at $910, gasoline expenses at $949, repair costs at $390, car thefts at 220 per 100,000 people and fatal accidents at 1.11 per 100,000 miles driven.

Bankrate said it gathered statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, FBI, CarMD, Oil Price Information Service, U.S. Department of Transportation, National Association of Insurance Commissioners and U.S. Census Bureau for the study.

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