Study: The Most Stressful Cities to Drive In

Each time we get behind the wheel, we are forced to navigate countless experiences on the road. From drivers honking and driving recklessly around you to miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic and high gas prices, it can be an incredibly stressful time. For some drivers, this is a norm they’ve grown accustomed to, but for others, these experiences can make it difficult to feel comfortable while driving. 

As Lemon Law Experts, we know that a functioning vehicle is only half of the battle. In order to feel safe while driving, you must keep a level head and remain vigilant to your surroundings. That’s why we set out to learn where Americans are most stressed while driving. 

To do this, we surveyed residents of 40 major U.S. cities and asked about their driving experiences and how their encounters have impacted them. We then awarded points to responses that represented stressful situations and calculated a stressful driving score on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 representing the most stressful cities. Read on to learn where your city ranks among the rest. 

Key Takeaways

• Atlanta, GA, and Nashville, TN, are the most stressful U.S. cities to drive in. 
• 89% of American drivers say driving stress shows up in their body, from a clenched jaw to a racing heart.
• 74% of Americans would rather do household chores than drive during their city’s rush hour.
• 62% of American drivers say driving in their city is more stressful than it was a few years ago.
• 1 in 3 American drivers frequently feel stressed, anxious, or angry when they drive. 
• Nearly 1 in 4 drivers have turned down or left a job because of the drive.
• More than half of drivers (54%) feel anxiety before they even start a drive.

Where Americans Feel Most Stressed While Driving

When it comes to stressful conditions on roadways, it was Atlanta, GA, that topped the list with a stressful driving score of 99.40 out of 100. Drivers in Georgia’s capital city are the most likely in the U.S. to take a longer route to avoid traffic. Coming in second place is Nashville, TN, (97.21) where nearly 1 in 2 drivers say they frequently feel stressed, anxious, or angry while driving.

At the calm end of the list sit San Francisco, CA, and Sacramento, CA, the two least stressful cities we surveyed, which is a twist given how often California traffic takes the blame for everyone’s bad mood.

No matter where drivers live, most feel like the roads are heading in the wrong direction. Sixty-two percent of American drivers say driving in their city is more stressful than it was a few years ago, and that pressure sets in early. More than half of drivers (54%) feel anxiety before they even start a drive, and 1 in 3 frequently feel stressed, anxious, or angry once they’re behind the wheel.

That stress follows people off the road, too. Nearly 1 in 4 drivers have turned down or left a job because of the drive, planning their paycheck around their commute rather than the other way around. Gas prices pile on as well, with 80% of Americans saying high prices at the pump stress them out.

After hearing how much drivers dread the daily grind, we asked what they’d rather do than sit in their city’s rush hour, and the answers say plenty. Seventy-four percent would rather do household chores, 43% would sit through a boring meeting, and 31% would even visit the dentist to skip the traffic.

The stress isn’t shared evenly, either. Women rate driving more stressful than men, at 6.9 versus 6.1 out of 10, and they feel it in their bodies more often, with 92% reporting at least one physical symptom compared to 85% of men.

Aspects of Driving That Stress Americans Out

After mapping out where stress runs highest, we wanted to know exactly what sets drivers off. Heavy traffic (87%) and aggressive lane changing (86%) top the list, sitting just ahead of distracted drivers glued to their phones (84%). It isn’t only other people, though. Bad roads rank near the very top, with 82% of drivers stressed by potholes and poor road conditions.

All that tension has to go somewhere, and for most people it lands in the body. Eighty-nine percent of drivers say driving stress shows up physically, from a clenched jaw to a racing heart. The most common symptoms are tense muscles or a clenched jaw (63%), a lingering bad mood that follows them home (61%), and a racing heart (60%).

Sometimes the stress comes out louder. Forty-eight percent of drivers admit they’ve yelled or sworn at another driver, and 31% say they’ve hit full road rage. It’s no wonder so many are ready to ease off. Sixty-seven percent of drivers have considered driving less because of the stress, and 41% have actually cut back.

That exhaustion has people looking for a way out. We asked what would help most, and drivers didn’t point at the roads first. The top answer was better behavior from other drivers (36%), ahead of less traffic (32%), while just 4% thought self-driving cars would make the biggest difference.

The toll adds up differently depending on where you park each night. When drivers rate their own city on a 10-point stress scale, Orlando, FL, comes out the most frazzled at 7.4, essentially tied with New York City (7.4) and Baltimore (7.3). Minneapolis, MN, is the calmest of the major cities at 5.4.

Feel Safe in Your Vehicle

Many of the things that stress us out on the road are simply out of our control. Traffic, other drivers’ behaviors, weather . . . the list goes on and on. One thing you should be able to count on is your car. When you start driving, you shouldn’t have to worry if a trip to the repair shop is in your near future. 

As Lemon Law Experts, we know having an unreliable car is just one more thing to distract you while driving. That’s why our team of lawyers prides itself on advocating for people and helping them ensure their vehicles are safe. If you are worried your car may qualify as a lemon, submit a free case evaluation to learn how our team can help you. 

Methodology

In this study, we set out to learn about how stressful driving has become in major U.S. cities. To do this, we surveyed 2,003 American drivers across 40 cities and asked a variety of questions including how stressful they find driving in their city, how it compares to a few years ago, how often it leaves them stressed or anxious, what stresses them out most, and more. 

We then awarded points to responses that represented stressful encounters and calculated the average score by city. Finally, we adjusted those scores on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 representing the most stressful cities.