Four significant California cities, including the state’s capital, made the national “top 10” list of cities with the most aggressive drivers over the holiday season, according to GasBuddy, a website that enables users to look up real-time gas prices. The list has Sacramento in fourth place, San Francisco in fifth place and Los Angeles in San Diego in sixth and seventh places. In the top three spots were Atlanta, Nashville and Birmingham, Alabama.
What the Study Shows
According to GasBuddy’s website, researchers looked into data nationwide particularly during the Thanksgiving holiday week (Nov. 27-Dec. 1) noting the frequency of aggressive events while driving such as rapid acceleration, hard braking and speeding. The study shows that motorists driving in certain cities across the United States are nearly 20% more aggressive than the average driver during the holidays, reducing fuel mileage by as much as 40% and wasting money on gas.
The study found that drivers were most aggressive on the actual holiday with the highest number of events happening right on Thanksgiving Day. According to the study, Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, is when drivers are the least aggressive. The most frequent aggressive driving habits during the holidays are hard braking, speeding and rapid acceleration.
GasBuddy compiled the information using data from its opt-in Drives Feature in the GasBuddy app that offers drivers an assessment of their driving habits during their trip in an effort to improve fuel efficiency, mapping out when and where a poor driving habit occurred. GasBuddy examined Drives in the top 50 metro areas by population as defined by the U.S. Census.
Tips to Reduce Road Rage
The holidays can be a stressful time. Here are a few tips to avoid aggressive holiday driving:
- Don’t hit the gas pedal. Plan extra time to get to your destination to account for weather conditions, heavy traffic or parking lot congestion.
- Avoid speeding and don’t tailgate as it is one of the top triggers of aggressive driving incidents. Making last-minute lane changes is another trigger. When possible, stay in the lane that will be closest to your planned exit to avoid sudden moves.
- Don’t go shopping if you are already stressed. Other drivers’ actions may set you off, prompting you to respond negatively.
- Remain alert at all times. Watch traffic patterns and monitor drivers who are speeding or driving erratically.
If an aggressive or reckless driver has injured you or a loved one, contact an experienced car accident lawyer who can help you better understand your legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.gasbuddy.com/go/scroogiest-drivers-2019/
