In Connecticut, it is easy to find yourself on both city streets and rural roads. During a half-hour drive, you might find yourself stuck at a traffic light in a city, cruising along the interstate, and enjoying a leisurely drive along a country highway.

While it does not take too long of a trip to get to a greener environment, most of Connecticut's residents have to deal with city driving. According to Iowa State University, Connecticut has the 11th highest share of residents living in places considered to be cities. In 2010, 88 percent of the state's population lived in an urban area.

Drivers in cities have to be prepared for a certain set of hassles and hazards during their normal commute. When purchasing a vehicle, it is important to take these factors into consideration.

City cars

One of the key considerations in finding a good vehicle for city driving is size. Doug DeMuro, writing for Autotrader, says larger vehicles will be more difficult to maneuver through an urban environment. Though you may need the extra room if you will be carrying several passengers or a large amount of cargo on a regular basis, smaller vehicles are typically more practical.

To get a better sense of the ideal vehicle size, take a few measurements. If you have a personal parking space, measure its length and width. You can also measure the size of a typical parking space in the city, as well as the height of any garages you plan to use frequently.

The measurements can help you eliminate any vehicles which are too big to park easily on the street or in the garage. Since they will fit into spaces more easily, smaller vehicles are less likely to be dinged in your efforts to park them.

However, there is no guarantee that your vehicle won't suffer some minor damage in the city. DeMuro says narrow lanes and tight parking spots increase your chances of scrapes, dents, and other blemishes. For this reason, it may be more advisable to choose a vehicle which can take the wear and tear without causing you concern.

You can ease the process of parking by looking for a model with parking assist technology. Joanne Helperin, writing for the automotive site Edmunds.com, says rearview cameras will give you a clearer view of what's behind you when you are backing into a space. Some high-end models include self-parking systems to take the stress out of parallel parking.

Decide whether an automatic transmission would be preferable to a manual one. Manual vehicles require more effort to drive in the stop-and-go conditions of cities. You might find the required effort to be tiring, particularly in areas with a lot of hills.

Gas mileage is another important consideration. Check the window sticker values to find out how many miles per gallon the vehicle will get in the city. Hybrid vehicles will run on electricity at low speeds, so they can be particularly valuable for city driving.

Best driving practices

Observe the traffic in a city, and you might see an orderly flow of vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. If drivers' nerves are frayed, you're more likely to encounter a cacophony of blaring horns and shouts.

If you are planning to drive in an unfamiliar city, take the time to get to know its peculiarities before your trip. Checking the map and route will give you a heads up on certain pitfalls, such as merges and one-way streets.

Traffic usually proceeds slowly in a city, and it is never a good idea to race through congested streets at a high speed. Jeff Youngs, writing for J.D. Power & Associates, says driving at the speed limit will give you more time to react to bicyclists, unexpected lane changes, and other surprises.

Aggressive driving also has the drawback of impeding your gas mileage. Helperin recommends accelerating gently, coasting when possible, and changing to neutral gear if you are stuck in congested conditions.

Avoid frequent lane changes. This behavior increases the risk of causing an accident, makes driving more stressful, and saves you only a negligible amount of time on your overall trip.

Pedestrians are especially prevalent in cities, and you should watch out for any jaywalkers or people crossing the street in crosswalks. Proceed cautiously around turns, since pedestrians might be walking across the street as you do so.

Don't be caught without some cash or a credit card. Youngs says you'll often have to pay for parking in a city, so you should be prepared for this expense. If you find a space with a time limit, keep an eye on the clock so you don't get a ticket for overstaying your welcome.

Make sure you take your valuables with you or store them out of sight. Leaving these items in plain view increases the possibility that someone will target you for a "crime of opportunity" and break into your vehicle.

When you take your vehicle in for servicing, give the cabin air filter some extra attention. Helperin says this filter will quickly become dirty due to soot, smog, and other pollutants in urban areas. Replace this filter at least once a year.