Despite popular belief, El Paso's roads are some of the best in the world for drivers -- at least, that's what one website claims.
While some may complain about seemingly endless construction and growing congestion, the Sun City ranked fifth for the "World's Best Cities for Drivers," according to a list released by RankingRoyals, a data and statistical website that claims to be one of the "fastest growing online educational platforms" worldwide.
The rankings were based on three main categories: infrastructure, safety, and costs. The website also evaluated road quality, traffic conditions, accident rates, and fuel and parking costs. The data is as of 2019, the study noted.
Topping the list were cities thousands of miles from the borderland: Calgary and Ottawa -- both in Canada, Dubai, and the Swiss capital, Bern. El Paso and Detroit were the only two cities in the United States that made the list.
El Pasoans were quick to react when the list was posted by the popular Instagram page Fitfam. Some were confused by the study's findings, and others defended the 915.
"If we're number 5 then I FEAR the rest of the world," one comment said.
Another person wrote, "People like to knock EP's roads but haven't driven in other major cities. EP roads aren't perfect but most of the time they're manageable."
Interestingly, another study -- this one released by Forbes -- tells a very different story about El Pasoans behind the wheel. In February 2024, the business magazine named El Paso one of the worst cities to drive.
Forbes compared the 50 most populated U.S. cities and identified where drivers engage in the most hazardous behavior that threatens public safety.
El Paso ranked 20 in Forbes' "Top 25 Cities with the Worst Drivers," citing a combination of fatal car accidents and fatal accidents involving drunk drivers per 100,000 residents.