Texas Named Most Stressful State for Drivers According to New Ranking

• Texas scores highest on stressful driving index at 58.25 out of 100, with New Jersey (57.97) and California (56.85) rounding out the top three

• Southern states dominate the top 10 most stressful driving list, with Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina all making the cut

• South Dakota ranks as the least stressful state for drivers with a score of 31.96, followed by North Dakota (34.77) and Alaska (35.04)

A new study from the Wisconsin personal injury attorney Gruber Law Offices has crowned Texas the most stressful state for drivers in America. 

The study analyzed data from multiple sources, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to examine 25 factors affecting driver stress levels, from commute times and traffic volumes to insurance costs and road conditions.

The data was compiled to develop a “Stressful Driving Index”. This index scores each state on a scale of 0-100, with higher scores indicating more stressful driving conditions. 

The 10 Most Stressful States for Drivers:

Texas is the most stressful state for drivers, scoring 58.25 in this study. The state’s average commute time of 27.3 minutes contributes to this title, with 82.2% of workers driving or carpooling to work. Texas drivers face high amounts of congestion, with an average hourly vehicle traffic of 2,835.24 vehicles per mile of highway. The state also ranks negatively for fatal crashes, with 34.12% involving speeding.

New Jersey ranks second with a score of 57.97. The Garden State has the highest highway traffic density nationally at 6,593.31 vehicles per mile. New Jersey drivers also face longer commute times, at 28.8 minutes, and they struggle with a high percentage of fatal crashes involving distracted driving, at 23.77%.

California takes third place with a score of 56.85. Californian drivers have an average commute time of 28.8 minutes. The state also has a high traffic volume, at 4,129.69 vehicles per highway mile. The state has the highest percentage of hit-and-run fatal crashes at 10.23% and significant speeding-related fatalities at 34.79%.

Florida ranks fourth with a score of 55.67. The Sunshine State has the highest average vehicle insurance costs among all states at $473, which adds financial stress to drivers. Florida also has the third-highest highway traffic volume at 3,311.82 vehicles per mile.

Maryland completes the top five with a score of 55.35. Drivers in Maryland face the longest average commute times in the nation at 30.7 minutes. The state also has a high percentage of roads in poor condition, with only 70.3% rated as acceptable.

Sixth through tenth in this study based on index scores are Hawaii at 54.99, Arizona at 53.65, Louisiana at 51.59, Missouri at 51.33, and South Carolina at 51.18 points.

Factors Contributing to Driving Stress

States with longer commute times typically score higher on the stress index. The average commute time in the top 10 most stressful states of 26.4 minutes is around 27% higher than that of the five least stressful states, which averaged 20.8 minutes.

Traffic volume plays a major role in driving stress. The top three most stressful states (Texas, New Jersey, and California) have an average of 4,519.41 vehicles per mile of highway, more than five times the average found in the five least stressful states, compared to 817.56.

Cost factors also contribute significantly to how driving stress was calculated. Florida drivers pay the highest average insurance premiums at $473, while Missouri drivers spend the most on fuel at $2,005 annually.

Road safety metrics show concerning patterns in high-stress states. New Mexico, which ranks 12th overall, has the highest percentage of fatal crashes involving distracted driving at 42.08%. Rhode Island has the highest percentage of speeding-related fatal crashes at 46.73%.

The Least Stressful States for Drivers

In contrast to the high-stress states, South Dakota ranks as the least stressful state for drivers with a score of 31.96. North Dakota follows closely at 34.77, with Alaska at 35.04, Oregon at 35.93, and Vermont at 36.63, completing the bottom five.

Table: 5 Least Stressful States for Drivers

A spokesperson commented on the findings,

“This data shows that regardless of how relaxed you may be as a person, like a job, or where you live can really control your mood and stress levels. Drivers in high-stress states face daily challenges, from finances to safety. And this combination of factors creates a perfect storm of stress for the average driver behind the wheel.

“If you start to feel stressed while driving, if it’s safe to do so, pull over and take a breath. A widely used method is called box breathing, and it has you inhale, hold your breath, then exhale for an equal count. So if you breathe in for a count of four, you’d breathe out using the same rhythm.”