With no surprise to commuters, a report released Thursday lists several Southern California cities as having some of the roughest roads with the costliest consequences in the country.
The report by TRIP, a national nonprofit transportation research group, outlined the condition of the nation's major urban roads and how much money drivers spend as a result of the poor conditions.
The urban area listed as a trio of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Santa Ana ranked as the second worst region for a rough ride, with 73 percent of major roads and highways in poor condition. The San Francisco/Oakland area topped that list, which looked at regions with populations over 500,000.
And how much money do motorists spend because of those rough roads? According to TRIP, commuters in LA, Long Beach and Santa Ana spend $1,031 each year in additional vehicle maintenance.
"The tremendous daily pounding that urban roadways endure from cars and trucks has taken a toll," TRIP said in its report. "From coast to coast, major streets and freeways in most U.S. communities are showing significant signs of distress.
"The result of this increasing stress, coupled with other factors, is that more than one-quarter of urban streets and highways have rough pavements that provide a ride that many drivers find unacceptable."
Riverside and San Bernardino roads were listed as the 14th worst in the US, with 46 percent in poor condition. Drivers in those cities spend $812 annually.
For urban areas with a population of 250,000 to 500,000, Temecula and Murrieta ranked fifth on the list with 47 percent of roads in poor condition. About $857 is spent annually on maintenance. A few spots lower sits Hemet at number 14, with 36 percent of rough roads, where $758 is spent a year.
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The Federal Highway Administration provided data for TRIP's report, "Bumpy Roads Ahead: America's Roughest Rides and Strategies to Make our Roads Smoother."
