If you have been stuck in Orlando traffic, crept along during “rush” hour or been involved in a car accident or near-accident, you have probably complained about the “terrible driving” in Orlando. But is it really that bad?
Well, in relation to the 99 other cities ranked among 2015’s Best & Worst Cities to Be a Driver by WalletHub, Orlando actually is better than most.
Orlando ranks No. 38 on the WalletHub list, placing it behind only Tampa (No. 33) among Florida cities. Four other Florida cities ranked behind Orlando: Jacksonville (No. 46), St. Petersburg (49), Miami (84) and Hialeah (89).
This CNBC slideshow provides a look at the best and worst cities on the list, including Lubbock, Texas, at the top and New York City on the bottom.
What’s Behind WalletHub’s Rankings?
To prepare its list, WalletHub compared the 100 most-populated U.S. cities across four key dimensions (and 21 relevant metrics within those dimensions). The dimensions are: Costs; Traffic and Road conditions; Safety; and Driver and Car Wellness.
Within the “Costs” dimension, for example, the rankings took into account the average gas prices, annual car insurance premium, auto maintenance costs and parking rates.
Along with an overall ranking, each city received scores for each dimension. For Orlando, the scores were:
| Dimension | Score |
| Costs | 22 |
| Traffic and Road Conditions | 70 |
| Safety | 90 |
| Driver and Car Wellness | 3 |
The “Safety” dimension – where it appears Orlando could use improvement – includes:
- Accident likelihood compared with national average
- Number of motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 residents
- Rate of car thefts
- WalletHub’s “Strictness of DUI Punishment” ranking
- WalletHub’s “Insurance Premium Penalties for High Risk Drivers” ranking
- Driving laws rating.
WalletHub lists sources at the bottom of its report, but not specific documents it worked with.
City-Data.com, which pulls statistics from a variety of public records about municipalities across the country, reports that in 2013 in Orlando, there were 28 fatal accidents that resulted in 30 deaths, involving:
- 42 vehicles
- 59 people
- 11 pedestrians.
Eight fatal accidents involved people who were drunk.
Elsewhere in its database of Orlando statistics, City-Data reports that there were 402.8 auto thefts per 100,000 residents.
As the ratings indicate, Orlando residents like their cars.
Orlando is No. 3 in the country in WalletHub’s “Driver and Car Wellness” dimension, which covers the number of auto repair shops, car washes, car dealerships, car clubs and annual international car shows per 100,000 residents as well as the availability of parking.
As a matter of fact, Orlando is No. 1 for the number of auto repair shops per 100,000 residents and No. 1 for most car washes per capita.
What Do These Rankings Say?
Lists like the WalletHub rankings provide a lot of numbers that are fun to look at and maybe even joke about, but they do not always shed a whole lot of light.
How your morning, evening or day behind the wheel in Orlando goes is what really matters to you. And if you have been in a car accident through no fault of your own, it’s been a bad day.
This is why it is important to take the appropriate steps to protect your rights after a car accident. If you need legal assistance, Orlando car accident lawyer Frank M. Eidson can help you to understand your rights and your options for seeking a recovery for your losses. Simply call or contact our law firm online today to learn more.
