How driver-friendly is Charlotte? It’s not the best, but it could be worse
Despite popular perception and its flaws, Charlotte is not one of the worst cities in the nation for motorists.
Yep, it’s true.
Of the 100 largest cities in the U.S., Charlotte was ranked 26th best city to drive in, according to a recent WalletHub report.
To rank each city, WalletHub compared them across four categories such as cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure, road safety, and access to vehicles and maintenance.
According to the report, Charlotte received its lowest marks in road safety, coming in at No. 51. The score was calculated based on metrics like the traffic fatality rate per 100,000 people, share of uninsured drivers and rate of motor vehicle thefts.
The report, however, did point out areas where the Charlotte area could improve.
In 2021, there were 128 fatal crashes in Mecklenburg County, or 11.5 per 100,000 residents, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation. That’s up from 8.84 fatal crashes per 100,000 people in 2018.
Charlotte ranked 45th in traffic and infrastructure, a position based on factors such as the annual number of hours spent in congestion per commuter and the quality of roads.
The average Charlotte commuter spent 17 hours in congestion in 2021, coming in at No. 50 among U.S. cities, according to INRIX, a traffic analytics company.
Charlotte landed 35th in access to vehicles and maintenance, weighing metrics like car dealerships and auto repair shops per capita.
According to 2021 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 11.76 used car dealerships per 100,000 residents in North Carolina — the 10th highest among all 50 states.
Charlotte was ranked the highest in cost of ownership and maintenance, at No. 24. The score was calculated based on factors like the cost of a new car, average gas prices and average monthly car insurance premium.
The current average price for a gallon of gas in Charlotte is $3.56, up from $3.35 a week ago, according to AAA.
Raleigh was ranked No. 1 in the report followed by Plano, Corpus Christi, Greensboro and Winston-Salem.
RELATED: Blinded by the light during your commute? How to handle sun glare on Charlotte roads
This story was originally published October 11, 2022 at 2:14 PM.
