Forbes recently ranked the ‘Worst Cities To Drive In,’ and it’s not the best news for Chicagoans.
Chicago ranked seventh nationwide because “drivers spend the highest amount of time in traffic among the cities we analyzed, and as a result, drivers spend the most on gas thanks to traffic congestion.”
Chicago also ranked third worst for overall driving experience. The Windy City ranked fifth in longest average commute time (34 minutes and 30 seconds), with Forbes suggesting that it takes Chicago drivers, on average, about 17 minutes to travel six miles.
Chicago also tied with several cities — New York City, Washington, D.C., and Boston — for having the slowest average speed in downtown at 11 mph.
Forbes found that drivers in Chicago spent the most on gas due to traffic congestion, about $2,618 annually.
The business magazine compared 47 cities using 15 metrics spanning four categories: driving experience, safety, cost of ownership, and access to car maintenance. California took two of the top three spots, with Houston and Philadelphia rounding out the top five.
Top 5 Worst Cities to Drive In:
- Oakland, California
- Miami, Florida
- San Francisco, California
- Houston, Texas
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Take a look at the complete list at Forbes.com
