According to a recent study conducted by Forbes Advisor, the worst city to drive in America is none other than Oakland, California. The study evaluated 47 metro areas across the country, taking into account various factors such as driving experience, safety, cost of car ownership, and access to car maintenance.

Oakland received the unfortunate distinction of being the worst city for driving due to a number of reasons. One of the contributing factors was the high number of fatal crashes, which significantly impacted the overall safety of driving in the city. Additionally, high gas prices and long average commute times further added to the city's poor ranking.

Dubbed "The Town," Oakland also scored poorly in terms of cost of car ownership, coming in second-worst in this category. The study also considered driving experience, factoring in commute distance and time wasted in traffic. In this category, Oakland ranked ninth overall, indicating significant congestion and traffic-related issues.

On the other side of the Bay Bridge, San Francisco, known as "The City," did not fare much better. It landed in third place on the list of worst cities to drive in. The study cited exceedingly slow commutes and the highest gas prices among all the cities listed as the main reasons for San Francisco's poor ranking. Furthermore, the entire Bay Area ranked fourth in car theft rates.

Los Angeles, often synonymous with heavy traffic, surprisingly came in 11th on the list. The high cost of car ownership was identified as the main contributing factor, along with poor safety and driving experience. However, the city's numerous auto shops and car maintenance options helped boost its score in terms of access to car maintenance.

Meanwhile, Long Beach secured the 20th spot on the list with similar issues affecting driving conditions. Of the 47 cities evaluated, five California cities were among the worst, while three found themselves among the best. San Diego ranked 6th, Fresno 9th, and Bakersfield 11th, mainly due to their overall driving experience. However, both Fresno and Bakersfield struggled to perform well in the safety category.

In contrast, Forbes Advisor crowned Raleigh, North Carolina as the best city to drive in. This city received high marks for safety, driving experience, and particularly for the cost of vehicle ownership.

The study, which drew on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the American Automobile Association, among others, aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the driving conditions in various cities.

While driving in these metro areas may not be the most enjoyable experience, a previous study by Forbes Advisor revealed that some of the nation's best drivers are actually found in these cities.