California’s $5.29 Gas and Crashes Drive Sixth Worst Ranking

Key Highlights

• California is the only state in America to earn a perfect 20 out of 20 on the gasoline price component, with an average of $5.29 per gallon, 60 cents more than second-place Washington ($4.69) and $1.82 above the national average of $3.47.
• California’s 2,901 fatal spring crashes from 2019 to 2023 are the 2nd highest raw total in the nation, just 22 behind Texas, yet its per-capita rate of 7 per 100,000 is moderate because 39 million residents absorb the volume.
• With 28.04% of roads in unacceptable condition, the 8th worst rate nationally, California combines deteriorating infrastructure with the country’s most expensive fuel, making every spring mile both more dangerous and more costly than in nearly any other state.

California recorded 2,901 fatal road crashes during March and April over five years, an average of more than 580 every spring, or roughly 10 lives lost on the state’s roads every single day of the travel season. A new nationwide study reveals that despite its moderate per-capita crash rate, the Golden State ranks 6th most dangerous in America for spring road trips, propelled by the most expensive gasoline in the nation and roads that are the 8th worst in the country.

This study was conducted by Wilk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers using federal road safety, infrastructure, and fuel price data. All 50 U.S. states were scored on a 100-point scale across three weighted indicators: average annual fatal road crashes during March and April per 100,000 residents from 2019 to 2023 (40 points), percentage of roads in unacceptable condition (40 points), and average gasoline price per gallon (20 points). States are ranked by their composite Spring Road Trip Risk Score to identify where drivers face the greatest challenges during peak spring travel season.

California’s Spring Road Trip Risk Score: A Complete Breakdown

California’s #6 ranking is powered by the most expensive gasoline in the country at $5.29 per gallon, earning it a perfect 20 out of 20 on the fuel cost component, the only state in the study to reach the maximum on this indicator. The state’s 28.04% unacceptable road rate adds another 25 points, ranking it 8th worst nationally and meaning more than one in four California roads fails to meet acceptable standards.

Looking at the study, Tyler Wilk, Founder of Wilk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, commented:

“California’s per-capita rate may look moderate on paper, but the raw numbers tell a devastating story. Nearly 2,901 families lost someone during just two months of the year over five years, and those drivers were navigating some of the worst roads in the country while paying more for gas than anywhere else in America. California’s size may dilute the rate, but it does not dilute the human cost.”

California vs. All Three Bordering States: A Regional Risk Comparison

California’s score of 62 is 3 points below neighboring Arizona’s 65 but 14 points above Nevada’s 48 and 18 points above Oregon’s 44, making it and Arizona a clear top tier within the region. What distinguishes California from its neighbors is the extremity of its gas prices: at $5.29, it costs $0.99 to $1.32 more per gallon than any bordering state, a premium that no other state in the top 10 faces relative to its immediate neighbors.

The Nation’s Most Expensive Gas: California Leads All 50 States at the Pump

California’s $5.29 per gallon stands alone at the top, 60 cents above second-place Washington at $4.69 and $1.82 above the national average of $3.47, earning it the only perfect 20 out of 20 on the gasoline price component in the entire study.

The Full Top 10: Riskiest States for Spring Road Trips and Where California Fits

California’s score of 62 slots it just 1 point below Hawaii’s 63 and 1 point above South Carolina’s 61, placing it in the tightly packed middle of the top 10 where six states ranked 5th through 10th are separated by just 4 points. What makes California distinct from the rest of the top 10 is that it pays the most to drive and still has the 2nd highest raw crash volume in the country, yet its per-capita rate of 7 is the third lowest on this list after Rhode Island’s 4 and Hawaii’s 5.

Methodology

This study analyzed all 50 U.S. states across three weighted indicators: average annual fatal road crashes during March and April per 100,000 residents from 2019 to 2023 (40 points), percentage of roads classified as being in unacceptable condition (40 points), and average gasoline price per gallon (20 points). Each state was assigned a Spring Road Trip Risk Score out of 100 based on these indicators. States were then ranked by their composite score to identify where drivers face the greatest challenges during peak spring travel season.

Data Sources

• AAA State Gas Price Averages: https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/
• CDAN Query Tool: https://cdan.dot.gov/query
• Bureau of Transportation Statistics – Road Condition: https://www.bts.gov/road-condition
• Research Dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KHinzCDrTGFGZ9TXwgBm5lP6BNZ1E_rDm25CoXYljvc/edit?gid=0#gid=0
• Study By: https://wilklawfirm.com/

About Wilk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers

Wilk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers is a Pennsylvania-based personal injury firm representing injured individuals and their families exclusively, with no representation of insurance companies or corporate defendants. The firm publishes road safety research as part of its ongoing commitment to public awareness and advocacy for crash victims and their families. Learn more at wilklawfirm.com.

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