The nation's top potato-producing state is also the most preferable place for peeling out. Yes, according to a just-released study by finance rate aggregator Bankrate.com, the Gem State is the crown jewel among the best states for drivers. Researchers ranked all 50 states for their driver friendliness, measured by factors including the number of fatal crashes and car thefts, average commute times, gas prices, repair costs and auto-insurance premiums.
Related: How Rude! Discourteous Drivers Ranked by State
Idaho rose to the top of the heap thanks to its low gas and insurance costs, below-average theft rates and brisk commute times, Bankrate reported. Compared with the national average commute of 24.4 minutes each way, insurance premiums of $910.17 per year, gas spending of $949 per year, repair costs of $390.38 per job, 220.7 car thefts per 100,000 people and 1.1 fatal crashes per 100 million miles driven, Idaho boasted a 19.5-minute commute, $656.08 insurance premium, $733.06 gas expenditure, $378.66 repair bill, 95.3 car thefts and 1.3 fatal crashes.
Generally speaking, a common factor among the best states for drivers was a lesser population size and density. In the top five, Idaho was joined by Vermont, Wyoming, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
"The best states for drivers have lots of wide-open spaces, whereas the worst states tend to be filled with people and cars — a bad combination for drivers' wallets," said Bankrate researcher and statistics analyst Chris Kahn, in a statement.
Indeed, the top 10 most-driver-friendly states have an average population of only 2.3 million residents according to U.S. Census Bureau figures, and eight are among the 25 least-densely populated states. That's compared with the top 10 least-driver-friendly states, which have an average population of 12.5 million, with nine of the 10 falling in the 25 most-densely populated.
The dubious distinction of least-driver-friendly state goes to Louisiana, which researchers dinged for having the highest car insurance costs in the U.S. as well as above-average crash fatalities. Louisiana drivers face a 24.7-minute commute, $1,279.42 insurance premium, $1,017.10 gas expenditure, $426.25 repair bill, 198 car thefts and 1.5 fatal crashes. It joins California, Texas, Maryland and New Jersey as the five least-driver-friendly states.
We feel compelled to note that despite being held in the highest regard among the best states for motorists, Idahoans aren't always seen in such a flattering light. A year ago, Insure.com ranked Idaho as the state with the rudest drivers. "The roadways of Idaho present a dichotomy of drivers: those who are moving so slowly that they're judged to be rude, and the aggressive drivers who speed around them and flip them off," Insure.com reported at the time.
See where your state ranks among best and worst for drivers below:
Best States for Drivers
1. Idaho
2. Vermont
3. Wyoming
4. Wisconsin
5. Minnesota
6. Maine
7. Iowa
8. Nebraska
9. South Dakota
10. New Hampshire
11. Alaska
12. Indiana
13. North Carolina
14. Utah
15. Kansas
16. Illinois
17. Montana
18. Ohio
19. Virginia
20. Massachusetts
21. Michigan
22. Rhode Island
23. North Dakota
24. Pennsylvania
25. Oklahoma
Worst States for Drivers
1. Louisiana
2. California
3. Texas
4. Maryland
5. New Jersey
6. Delaware
7. Georgia
8. New York
9. Hawaii
10. Washington
11. Nevada
12. Arizona
13. Alabama
14. West Virginia
15. Arkansas
16. Connecticut
17. South Carolina
18. Missouri
19. Florida
20. New Mexico
21. Oregon
22. Kentucky
23. Colorado
24. Tennessee
25. Mississippi
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