Study: Victoria is the worst state for driving
New research ranks Australia’s best and worst places by traffic, motoring costs, fatalities and road qualityThe News
The Australian state best known for its world-class coffee, culinary and diverse landscapes is also the worst state for driving, according to the latest research from iSelect.
The Key Details
- New research reveals best and worst states/territories to drive
- Victoria worst Aussie state to drive thanks to high motoring costs and traffic delays
- ACT is the best, thanks to less congestion and smaller footprint
- Queensland reportedly has the most damaged roads and potholes
- South Australia drivers spend more time in traffic on average than any other state
The Finer Details
According to the latest findings from insurance comparison site, iSelect, Victoria is the worst Australian state for drivers, thanks to its high motoring costs, congested roads and poor road quality.
iSelect says it examined a range of data to create an index, including hours spent in traffic, the quality of roads, fatality rates for each state and territory, and the cost of running a car compared to average earnings.
Victoria scored the highest for motoring costs, with drivers thought to spend just over 26 per cent of their income on motoring costs, as well as losing around 84 hours every year while stuck in traffic.
South Australia just beat Victoria for hours spent in traffic (85 hours), while drivers in the Northern Territory (28 hours) and ACT (44 hours) reportedly spend the least amount of time in traffic.
% of income spent on motoring costs (average) | Traffic - hours lost / year at rush hour (2024) | Road quality* | Fatality rate per 100,000 people (2024) | Index score | |
VIC | 26.28% | 84.00 | 165.05 | 4.01 | 2.91 |
QLD | 24.62% | 68.50 | 211.92 | 5.38 | 3.63 |
SA | 23.56% | 85.00 | 57.04 | 4.83 | 5.37 |
NT | 23.74% | 28.00 | 66.51 | 22.69 | 5.48 |
NSW | 23.33% | 52.50 | 155.01 | 3.99 | 5.81 |
TAS | 23.37% | 52.00 | 86.80 | 5.56 | 6.46 |
WA | 21.00% | 55.00 | 53.65 | 6.20 | 7.77 |
ACT | 21.97% | 44.00 | 7.35 | 2.31 | 8.84 |
* No. of reported potholes and damaged road in the past year per 100,000 people
Drivers in WA and the ACT spend less on motoring costs each year, while the latter’s road quality scored exponentially higher than any other state or territory, according to the number of damaged roads and potholes reported per 100,000 people.
Queensland was at the other end of the spectrum, ranking the second-worst state for driving overall (behind Vic), but worst of all for road quality by a significant margin, with 211.92 defects reported per 100,000 people, followed by Victoria (165.05) and NSW (155.01).
When it comes to fatalities, the Northern Territory ranked worse by a long shot, with a fatality rate of 22.69 per 100,000 people, according to data from 2024, followed by Western Australia (6.20 per 100,000), Tasmania (5.56) and Queensland (5.38).
The Road Ahead
“iSelect’s research highlights the significant difference in road conditions and driving experiences across Australia,” general insurance manager Adrian Bennett said.
“Unsurprisingly, the ACT comes out on top – as the most compact territory it has better managed roads, lower congestion and fewer fatalities.
“On the other hand, the Northern Territory has a stark contrast, with minimal traffic and alarmingly high fatalities.
“These findings are a reminder that safe driving is essential and having the right car insurance in place is crucial for protecting yourself and others on the road.
“At iSelect, we compare policies from a panel of insurers to help Aussies find the cover that best suits their needs and budget.”
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