How Do Congested Roads Hurt the Economy?
A recent Atlanta Patch article says that being stuck in traffic cost the United States $305 billion in 2017 alone. The $305 billion figure represents both the direct and the indirect costs of these jams. Direct costs are the wasted fuel and unproductive time. Indirect costs address things like companies raising the price of goods because of delivery trucks being stuck in traffic.
On a local scale, our road congestion costs the average Atlanta driver $2,212 a year and creates economic losses of more than $7 billion a year for our city.
It is interesting to note that while Los Angeles has the worst stop-and-go traffic in the world (102 peak hours a year), this condition costs the average LA driver ($2,828) and the city ($19.2 billion) significantly less than the jams in New York City. NYC is second-worst in the US and third-worst in the world at 91 peak hours a year, yet this phenomenon takes $2,982 from the wallet of the average driver and costs the city $33.7 billion.
How Can Traffic Jams Affect You?
While traffic jams are frustrating and can cost you money, they can also place you at an increased risk for injury from a car accident.
Traffic jams often prompt drivers turn to their cell phones to look for an alternate route, call and let someone know they are running late, send text messages, or check their emails or social media. These distracted drivers can cause catastrophic or even deadly accidents.
If you have suffered an injury in an accident, call the Law Office of Jason R. Schultz, P.C. at 404-474-0804 today to schedule your free case evaluation.
