New Report Finds Lack of Safety Features on Roads Costs California Drivers $61 Billion Annually
Aug 15, 2018
According to TRIP, the national transportation research organization that conducted the study, more than two-thirds of major roads in California are in poor or mediocre condition and that 1,603 locally and state-maintained bridges are structurally deficient.
From the report:
“Driving on California roads that are deteriorated, congested, and that lack some desirable safety features costs California drivers a total of $61 billion each year. TRIP has calculated the cost to the average motorist in the state’s largest urban areas in the form of additional vehicle operating costs (VOC) as a result of driving on rough roads, the cost of lost time and wasted fuel due to congestion, and the financial cost of traffic crashes.”
“Maintaining this higher level of transportation funding will be critical in allowing the state to improve road and bridge conditions, relieve traffic congestion and improve traffic safety. If California is unable to maintain its current level of transportation investment, the cost to the public of deficient roads, traffic congestion, and a lack of adequate roadway safety will increase and economic development opportunities and quality of life in the Golden State will be diminished.”
The findings in the TRIP report underscore what is at stake in November with Proposition 6, the attack on bridge and road safety.
“The last thing in the world we should be doing is eliminating road safety and infrastructure projects. But that’s exactly what Prop. 6 will do,” said Skip Carter, former deputy commissioner of the California Highway Patrol. “It will have a hugely negative and local impact — making our roads and bridges less safe, more deteriorated and more congested.”
Prop. 6 jeopardizes funding for more than 6,500 bridge and road safety, transportation and public transit improvement projects currently underway throughout California by eliminating more than $5 billion annually in existing transportation funds.
TRIP is a Washington, D.C. based national transportation research organization that researches, evaluates and distributes economic and technical data on surface transportation issues. TRIP promotes transportation policies that help relieve traffic congestion and its impact on air quality, improve road and bridge conditions, make surface travel safer, and enhance economic productivity.
The full report is available on the TRIP website.
Breakdown of Cost of Bad Roads in Urban Areas
Below is a chart that shows the costs to drivers in the state’s largest urban areas.
Cost of bad roads for average driver in urban areas
California had approximately 26.2 million licensed drivers in 2016.
About No on Prop. 6 — the Attack on Bridge and Road Safety
The California Professional Firefighters, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, American Society of Civil Engineers, business, local government, labor, environmentalists and first responders urge NO on Prop. 6 because it will stop critical transportation projects and jeopardize the safety of our bridges and roads.
Prop. 6 eliminates more than $5 billion annually in existing transportation funds and stops funding for more than 6,500 bridge and road safety, transportation and public transit improvement projects currently underway throughout California.
Prop. 6 is opposed by a broad coalition of more than 300 public safety organizations, engineers, local transportation agencies, cities, counties, environmental groups, business and labor organizations throughout California.
From the report:
“Driving on California roads that are deteriorated, congested, and that lack some desirable safety features costs California drivers a total of $61 billion each year. TRIP has calculated the cost to the average motorist in the state’s largest urban areas in the form of additional vehicle operating costs (VOC) as a result of driving on rough roads, the cost of lost time and wasted fuel due to congestion, and the financial cost of traffic crashes.”
“Maintaining this higher level of transportation funding will be critical in allowing the state to improve road and bridge conditions, relieve traffic congestion and improve traffic safety. If California is unable to maintain its current level of transportation investment, the cost to the public of deficient roads, traffic congestion, and a lack of adequate roadway safety will increase and economic development opportunities and quality of life in the Golden State will be diminished.”
The findings in the TRIP report underscore what is at stake in November with Proposition 6, the attack on bridge and road safety.
“The last thing in the world we should be doing is eliminating road safety and infrastructure projects. But that’s exactly what Prop. 6 will do,” said Skip Carter, former deputy commissioner of the California Highway Patrol. “It will have a hugely negative and local impact — making our roads and bridges less safe, more deteriorated and more congested.”
Prop. 6 jeopardizes funding for more than 6,500 bridge and road safety, transportation and public transit improvement projects currently underway throughout California by eliminating more than $5 billion annually in existing transportation funds.
TRIP is a Washington, D.C. based national transportation research organization that researches, evaluates and distributes economic and technical data on surface transportation issues. TRIP promotes transportation policies that help relieve traffic congestion and its impact on air quality, improve road and bridge conditions, make surface travel safer, and enhance economic productivity.
The full report is available on the TRIP website.
Breakdown of Cost of Bad Roads in Urban Areas
Below is a chart that shows the costs to drivers in the state’s largest urban areas.
Cost of bad roads for average driver in urban areas
| Location | Vehicle Operating Costs | Safety | Congestion | TOTAL |
| Bakersfield | $ 579 | $ 668 | $ 531 | $ 1,778 |
| Central Valley | $ 737 | $ 625 | $ 403 | $ 1,765 |
| Chico-Redding | $ 485 | $ 743 | $ 299 | $ 1,526 |
| Concord | $ 923 | $ 265 | $ 780 | $ 1,968 |
| Fresno-Madera-Visalia-Hanford | $ 673 | $ 617 | $ 375 | $ 1,665 |
| Los Angeles | $ 921 | $ 299 | $ 1,774 | $ 2,995 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino | $ 795 | $ 515 | $ 1,365 | $ 2,675 |
| Sacramento | $ 754 | $ 419 | $ 993 | $ 2,166 |
| San Diego | $ 694 | $ 327 | $ 920 | $ 1,941 |
| San Francisco-Oakland | $ 1,049 | $ 206 | $ 1,737 | $ 2,992 |
| San Jose | $ 983 | $ 287 | $ 1,475 | $ 2,745 |
| Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-San Luis Obispo | $ 655 | $ 395 | $ 368 | $ 1,419 |
| California- Statewide | $22.1 Billion | $9.8 Billion | $29.1 Billion | $61 Billion |
About No on Prop. 6 — the Attack on Bridge and Road Safety
The California Professional Firefighters, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, American Society of Civil Engineers, business, local government, labor, environmentalists and first responders urge NO on Prop. 6 because it will stop critical transportation projects and jeopardize the safety of our bridges and roads.
Prop. 6 eliminates more than $5 billion annually in existing transportation funds and stops funding for more than 6,500 bridge and road safety, transportation and public transit improvement projects currently underway throughout California.
Prop. 6 is opposed by a broad coalition of more than 300 public safety organizations, engineers, local transportation agencies, cities, counties, environmental groups, business and labor organizations throughout California.
Paid for by No on Prop 6: Stop the Attack on Bridge & Road Safety, sponsored by business, labor, local governments and transportation advocates
Committee Major Funding from
California Alliance for Jobs
Southern California Partnership for Jobs
State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
Funding details at www.fppc.ca.gov
Committee Major Funding from
California Alliance for Jobs
Southern California Partnership for Jobs
State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
Funding details at www.fppc.ca.gov