Report: Bad Roads Cost You $1,200/Year
Bad streets and highways are hard on drivers' wallets, a report says. Photo courtesy flickr.com/matteckelbergBy Kelli Ainsworth
A new report shows that bad roads cost Austin drivers $1,200 a year, apiece. The report (PDF) by TRIP, a nonprofit highway industry organization, says poor roads cause accidents and additional traffic, which lead to longer commute times and greater fuel usage.
Substandard roads can also result in more wear and tear to vehicles and tires, resulting in higher maintenance costs.
All together, TRIP found that 18 percent of roads across the state are in poor condition, costing Texans more than $23 billion a year.
“It’s critical that the state can find the funds to repair the roads to keep them safe, smooth and efficient because it’s much cheaper to repair the roads up front than it is to pass those costs along to the drivers, many of whom can ill afford it,” said Carolyn Bonifas, who helped write the report.
But TRIP says bad roads cost more than just money. The organization estimates that road conditions also contribute to one-third of serious and fatal crashes.
