Traffic jams are a common issue all across the US. In fact, one report showed that commuters lose 42 hours of their life each year sitting in traffic (and if you ask a commuter who lives in a major city, he or she will probably tell you that figure seems low).
But drivers are giving up more than just shy of two days of life each while sitting in traffic. It can also take a toll on your vehicle. Why is traffic hard on a car? What are the US cities with the worst traffic? How can you protect yourself?
The High Cost of Traffic Jams
Stop-and-go traffic creates a lot of wear and tear on a vehicle. The biggest issue is how much use the brakes get, rather than the idling in place. Having to hit the brakes repeatedly has the following effects:
- Wastes gas – Using the brakes uses energy. Then you need more energy to get the car back up to speed. While you may still be moving, you are using a lot more gas than you would with the car just idling in place.
- Wears out the brakes – From the pads to the rest of the braking system, you can expect something to wear out with fewer miles on the car if you are on the brakes a lot like a person has to be when stuck in traffic.
US Cities with the Most Traffic
It probably wouldn’t surprise you to hear that northeastern cities like New York and Boston make the list. You may not even be shocked to find out that the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. tops the list with the worst traffic. What you may not know is that the other half of the list of the top six US cities with the most traffic are all in the same state – California.
San Jose, San Francisco, and LA drivers face between 67 and 80 hours of traffic per year, as opposed to the national average of 42 hours.
Protect Yourself from Wear and Tear
If you can, be sure to carpool on your commute or move closer to your work. Either way, you want to protect yourself against major repair costs with a vehicle service contract from Vehicle Service Center. Our specialists are always ready to offer a free quote. So call 1-800-280-6708 today or fill out the online request form.
