Everything is bigger in Texas, including apparently the bill drivers pay for the right to drive on state roads, highways and bridges.

In fact, a new study by TRIP, a national transportation research group, Texas drivers pay more than $20 billion every year to keep driving in the state. This money is not straight out of pocket for tolls, fines, or fees. It comes in the form of wasted fuel due to traffic congestion and delays, and lost wages and productivity from being late to wherever they are going (like work.)

Statewide nearly half of all Texas roads were found to be deficient in some way according to the TRIP report. It was more pronounced in major urban metropolitan areas than rural small towns with cities like Houston and San Antonio seeing the ‘cost’ for driving skyrocket to more than a thousand dollars a year.

State legislators have been trying to rectify this problem by funding major transportation initiatives in the state, but driving safety advocates say these modernization attempts are only going to satisfy the drivers using state roads today, not the thousands, possibly millions, of new drivers who will hit the roads in the coming years.

It is an ongoing problem, maintaining roads and bridges for common use and states have struggled to keep up with the issue for decades. In Texas the problem is clearly costing taxpayers–drivers, at least–big bucks.The problems are obvious but the solutions are more nebulous.

For anyone driving in the state of Texas the best idea is always to plan your route ahead. If your usual route proves to be congested or full of delays, consider finding an alternate route or some alternate form of transportation. Remember, defensive drivers know that patience is a virtue they need to have in good supply. Getting frustrated behind the wheel is only going to cost you more money farther down the road.

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