The average U.S. driver spends 49 hours a year in traffic. That significant fact leads to the loss of millions of dollars in productivity, so says a new 2026 study by WalletHub.

How to determine the most driver-friendly states in the U.S.

To determine the most driver-friendly state, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 31 key metrics. The data ranged from average gas price to rush hour congestion, to road quality, and other factors.

The U.S. has an amazing 10  out of the world’s 25 worst cities for traffic.

If you are stuck in traffic, road conditions can lend high emotions to the already stressful situation of your commute. If you are stuck in traffic on a bad road, that can fuel major stress and cause longer delays.

Where are the best states to drive in?

The best state to drive in, ranking 1-5, is absolutely no surprise. In order, Vermont, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Indiana. I have driven in all these states. Of course, states 2-4 have flat, wide-open highways with tremendous infrastructure and no traffic. Vermont is beautiful, my experience has been wonderful scenery, great roads, and clearly marked signage.

Where does New Jersey rank?

New Jersey ranks somewhere in the middle, on the cusp of best and worst states to drive in. Coming in at No.  27, New Jersey received the middle-of-the-pack rank due to a no-surprise ranking of 47th worst for traffic and infrastructure.

I know we have some tough roads, very tough roads, but the Garden State Parkway and the Turnpike, for the most part, are in much better shape than I have seen on other major roadways, namely Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and the traffic in Los Angeles, fuhgeddaboudit!

While New Jersey ranked 47th for traffic and infrastructure, they rank 7th overall for safety rank which helped in the overall average.

New Jersey also ranked 29th in car cost in ownership and maintenance.

These factors put New Jersey in the middle. We know we have traffic problems, we know we have infrastructure and road condition issues, but we also know how to drive safely. That is a good thing. Be careful out there.

For the full study and information, please follow the link below: Best & Worst States to Drive in 2026

LOOK: See the iconic cars that debuted the year you were born

The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 weekend host Big Joe Henry. Any opinions expressed are Big Joe’s own.

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Those attending last weekend’s Escape The Rock escaped a day earlier than anticipated after tournament officials crammed the scheduled two-day event into one with an incoming storm bearing down on the Philadelphia suburbs. 

Those associated with the tournament were able to adapt, overcome and knock out an amazing event in less than 12 hours. Here’s a look at some of the top Pennsylvania performers at Escape The Rock. 

Arav Pandey (FR) — Trinity, 107 pounds

Trinity’s Arav Pandey had an incredible run Saturday to the 107-pound title. The 14th-ranked freshman entered the tournament as the top seed and rolled into the semifinals with two first-period falls and an 18-2 technical fall in the quarterfinals before taking out #17 Ace Chittum 6-2 in the semifinals. Chittum was coming off a 5-0 win in the quarters against #10 Max Quarry, a Beast of the East and Powerade finalist. Pandey cruised in the finals, notching a 10-2 major decision against #12 Jack Anello of Blair Academy. Pandey is now 22-2 on the season and looking like a serious contender for the 107-pound PIAA title in AA. 

Watch Pandey Dominate In The Escape The Rock Finals

Braiden Lotier (JR) — Bishop McDevitt, 114 pounds 

After a runner-up finish at Powerade, returning PIAA AA state champion Braiden Lotier won a deep 114-pound Escape The Rock bracket. After cruising to the semifinals with two falls and a technical fall, #18 Lotier won a 10-6 battle over #17 Killian Coluccio to reach the finals, where many thought he would be taking on #2 Justin Farnsworth. However, Charlie Esposito spoiled the party. Esposito picked up a late reversal in the semifinal against Farnsworth and rode Farnsworth out for the 2-1 win. In the finals, it was all Lotier as he picked up two takedowns to go on to win the 114-pound belt with an 8-3 decision. 

Watch Lotier Defeat Esposito In The Escape The Rock Finals

Nico Emili (SO) — Bethlehem Catholic, 121 pounds

Returning PIAA medalist Nico Emili got off to a bit of a slow start to his sophomore season. However, he picked up one of the biggest wins in dramatic fashion last weekend at Escape The Rock. Coming into the tournament as the #8 seed at 121 pounds, Emili earned a tech fall and a 5-2 decision to reach the quarterfinals, where he took on the top seed and fifth-ranked Johnathon McGinty of St. Joseph Regional. McGinty was rolling as he led 7-1 with a little over a minute to go in the third period before Emili got to a front headlock and hit his patented cement mixer. Emili took McGinty to his back with the mixer and picked up the fall in 5:05 for the huge upset win and to advance to the semifinals. Emili would go on to finish fourth at 121 pounds. Still, it was still a great win for Emili and good momentum for him as we draw closer to the postseason. 

Watch Emili’s Dramatic Quarterfinal WIn

Kai Vielma (JR) — Connellsville, 145 pounds

Returning PIAA third-place finisher Kai Vielma impressed, reaching the finals in a deep 145-pound Escape The Rock field. After picking up a tech fall and 10-0 major decision in the round of 16, Vielma picked up a huge win over #10 Greyson Music, defeating the past PIAA finalist 5-1 to advance to the semifinals. Vielma then downed a red-hot Anthony DePaul, who had just taken out #5 Matthew O’Neill in the quarterfinals with a buzzer-beater takedown. Vielma rode DePaul out in the first tiebreaker and then earned his escape and held DePaul off for the 2-1 tiebreaker win. Vielma battled hard in the finals but fell just short against #2 Tyler Dekraker, as Dekraker’s first-period takedown was the difference in a 4-2 win. 

Watch Vielma’s Quarterfinal Against Music

McKaden Speece (SR) — Wilson West Lawn, 172 pounds

Two-time PIAA medalist McKaden Speece continued his impressive senior run with an Escape The Rock championship at 172 pounds. Speece rolled into the semifinals with a technical fall, a fall, and an 8-2 decision. In the semifinals, Speece gave up the first takedown to second-seeded Chris Dennis and battled back to tie the match 5-5 with a second-period takedown before Dennis was ford to injury default after an apparent knee injury. Speece took on #18 Barry Norman of Blair Academy in the finals after Norman defeated #15 Lucas Boe 3-2 in ultimate tiebreaker in the semifinals. In the finals, Speece outlasted Norman, picking up an escape in the ultimate tiebreaker for the 3-2 win and the 172-pound Escape The Rock title. Speece is now 37-1 on the season and will look to end his career with a state championship before moving on to Navy next season. 

Watch Speece Defeat Norman In The Escape The Rock Finals

Elijah Brown (SR) — Belle Vernon, 215 pounds

Returning PIAA AAA champion Elijah Brown dominated the 215-pound Escape The Rock field. On his way to the finals, Brown picked up three first-period falls and a 16-0 tech fall in 1:48 in the semifinals, setting up his title matchup with Nicholas Gonzalez, who was fresh off of a 10-5 win over #17 Cash Colbert in the semifinals. Brown once again wasted no time getting to work, as he took an early 7-0 lead and picked up the first-period fall in just 46 seconds. For his performance, the Penn State commit received the Outstanding Wrestler award and he is looking to close out his career with his second state title. 

Watch Brown Waste No Time In the Escape The Rock Finals

Pennsylvania High School Premium Rankings

Check out the Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Premium Rankings, which are generated by using an athlete’s complete match history to predict a wrestler’s performance against others in their weight class by considering factors such as win-loss records, the quality of their victories (pins, technical falls, major decisions), the strength of their opponents, and overall historical performance patterns. 

The data is updated every Monday, sourced from the Trackwrestling season results. Since each team is responsible for maintaining its season results, any data discrepancies for a wrestler should be addressed by contacting their coach to manage the information within the season. This includes the weight class assigned. Wrestlers are eligible to be ranked after competing in five matches at a single weight.

On Thursday, a group of progressive lawmakers joined the Working Families Party in announcing a set of four bills, branded the “Fair Share for Rhode Island Package,” that would go beyond McKee’s proposal to generate $650 million in annual revenue by boosting taxes on the wealthy.

Representative Brandon C. Potter, a Cranston Democrat, called McKee’s proposal “a strong step forward,” but said, “It simply does not do enough to meet the needs of working people in Rhode Island right now.”

Potter emphasized that President Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act” would provide about $1 trillion in federal tax cuts for the richest 1 percent over the next decade while slashing health benefits and food assistance for lower-income Rhode Islanders.

“We need to meet this moment,” Potter said. “In a state controlled by Democrats, we have the opportunity to demonstrate what it means to fight for working people and deliver on our values in the way that this moment calls for.”

The “Fair Share for Rhode Island Package” includes:

● A 1 percent tax “wealth tax” on a Rhode Island tax filers who have worldwide financial assets of more than $25 million. That would generate a projected $300 million per year.

Potter and Senator Tiara T. Mack, a Providence Democrat, are sponsoring that legislation, which would apply to financial intangible assets such as stocks, bonds, options, and annuities, and not to the value of houses or other real estate property, or nonfinancial intangible assets such as patents or brand recognition.

Mack said the tax would affect 1/14th of the state’s richest 1 percent. “And because wealth is so concentrated amongst this very small percentage, this small tax on the richest Rhode Islanders will raise $3 billion over the next 10 years,” she said.

● A 3 percent surtax on taxable income of more than $640,000. That would generate a projected $200 million a year.

Representative Karen Alzate, a Pawtucket Democrat, said this is the seventh year that she and Senator Melissa A. Murray, a Woonsocket Democrat, have sponsored the legislation, and in light of Trump administration cuts, she said it’s more crucial than ever.

Alzate said the Massachusetts millionaires tax has provided that state with billions in revenue to improve health care and schools and lure big business such as Hasbro, which is moving its headquarters from Pawtucket to Boston. ”There is no mass exodus,“ she said. ”Just stronger communities.”

● A 4 percent “wealth proceeds tax” that would generate a projected $144.4 million per year.

Representative Teresa A. Tanzi, a South Kingstown Democrat, and Senator Meghan E. Kallman, a Pawtucket Democrat, are sponsoring the legislation, which aims to equalize the tax treatment of earned and unearned income by taxing “passive income” such as capital gains, dividends, interest and annuities, along with certain kinds of rents, royalties and business income. It would not tax income derived from active participation in a business or a retirement income such as Social Security, pensions, 401(k)s and IRAs.

● A digital ads tax that would generate an undetermined amount of revenue.

Kallman and Representative Terri Cortvriend, a Portsmouth Democrat, are sponsoring legislation that would tax the revenue of major tech companies, such as Meta and X, that make money from digital advertising. Only businesses with $1 million in annual gross revenue from digital ad services in Rhode Island would be required to file the new digital advertising tax return.

Last year, McKee proposed a 10 percent tax on digital advertising revenues in the state, which would only apply to media companies with more than $1 billion in global revenues.

Apple, Meta, TikTok, and Microsoft hired local lobbyists in Rhode Island to try to kill the proposal, and it was not included in the budget passed by the General Assembly. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, said the proposal was too speculative, noting only Maryland had tried such a tax and it was facing lawsuits.

The four tax proposals are facing strong opposition from business groups.

Laurie White, president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, criticized the proposals, saying increases in the personal income tax would hurt many small businesses.

Most of the state’s small businesses are organized as pass-through entities, meaning their business profits are taxed under the personal income tax, not a separate corporate tax, White said. Potter disputed the extent of the impact of a tax on income of more than $640,000.

But White said, “For thousands of small businesses, it is a direct tax on their operating income, and it ultimately affects employees through fewer opportunities and slower growth.”

White said the Working Families Party is supporting higher taxes while placing less emphasis “on ensuring accountability and measurable results from government.” For example, Rhode Island spends more per pupil on education than most states, and the outcomes are “mixed,” she said.

“Higher taxes alone do not necessarily lead to better public services,” White said. “We support the principle of reform before revenue and believe that Rhode Islanders deserve better accountability and quality government services for their tax dollars.”

She said state general revenue spending for fiscal year 2026 will reach $5.81 billion, marking an 11 percent increase in two years and outpacing inflation. “When spending grows at that rate, no narrowly targeted tax hike can meaningfully address the underlying problem,” she said.

White said the proposed digital advertising tax would hurt small businesses that use digital ads to grow their businesses, and raise prices for consumers. “It is also unclear whether or not it is constitutional,” she said.

On Friday, spokesmen for House and Senate leaders responded to the four tax proposals, saying, “When the legislation is introduced, it will undergo the usual thorough and public committee review process for consideration on its merits.”

Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.