TomTom, the makers of GPS navigation systems did a study of seven cities to discover the "driving personality" of each one.  Atlanta's scores were pretty scary:   

• Atlanta commuters spend more time in their cars going to and from work than people in any other city.   
  
• 19.9% of Atlantans only fill up their gas tanks when running on fumes   
  
• 12.9% talk or text on cell phones while driving alone   
  
• 19.4% leave for an appointment right on time and hope for no traffic   
  
• 66.2% drive 5-10 miles over the speed limit.   
  
• 14.4% of Atlantans "curse or gesture crudely" when someone cuts them off   
  
• 21.6% of Atlantans slam on their brakes or slow down when being tailgated

So, we here in Atlanta spend more time in our cars, and spend a lot more time driving aggressively than drivers in other cities. This means we're higher-stress, we are charged higher car insurance rates, and we are being harder on our cars.

Aggressive Driving Hurts Your Car

Jackrabbit starts and stops will wear down the brakes, transmission and suspension in your car.  Try to start and stop smoothly.

Riding the brake pedal while stuck in stop-and-go traffic will wear down the brake linings and waste gas. Try shifting into a lower gear rather than riding the brakes.

Aggressive Driving Hurts Your Budget

Remember those smooth starts and stops? Those rapid accelerations and slamming on the brakes can lower your car's gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent on secondary roads.

For 66.2% of us, speeding is also going to take its toll on our wallets. For most makes and models, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60 mph.  You can assume that for every 5 mph over 60 that you drive, you will pay another quarter per gallon of gas!

Not only that, but Atlanta's reputation as an aggressive driving town will raise your automotive insurance rates.  Did you know that car insurance companies include zip codes in their rating formulas?  We all have to slow down and calm down to keep that from happening!

Plus, aggressive driving means that you're more likely to get ticketed, which can cost a pretty penny.

Aggressive Driving Hurts You!

We all know that stress can have terrible effects on our bodies.  We know that when we are stressed-out driving, we arrive to our destinations frazzled and exhausted. Driving aggressively not only contributes to your own stress levels, it adds to the stress of the people driving around you on the road.

Try to plan ahead and leave a little early, and try to take it easy on your car and yourself!