On average, Atlanta drivers will spend, over a lifetime, 484 days in their cars commuting to and from work.
We aren’t an anomaly, however.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, "87 percent of daily trips take place in personal vehicles," WalletHub reports in its ranking of the best and worst cities to drive in. And even with growing access to public transportation in U.S. cities, most people still choose to travel by car, mainly for reasons such as "comfort and reliability."
» Atlanta ranks among America's 'most congested' cities
Driving can be expensive, though. Add the costs of wasted time and fuel due to traffic congestions, WalletHub reports, and our collective tab comes to about $124 billion annually, or $1,700 per household.
A 2018 study by EducatedDriver determined the average Atlanta commuter will spend $182, 886 and 288,000 miles over the course of a lifetime — more than any other city in its survey.
» Study: Atlanta drivers' lifetime cost of commuting is highest in US
Atlanta isn’t the worst city to drive in by WalletHub’s standards, however. In fact, it’s among the best.
For its report, the personal finance website compared the 100 largest US cities across four key dimensions: cost of ownership and maintenance; traffic and infrastructure; safety; and access to vehicles and maintenance. WalletHub evaluated those four dimensions across 30 metrics, with a 100 representing the most favorable conditions for drivers.
» Here's how much time you'll waste commuting in Atlanta in your lifetime
According to WalletHub, Atlanta is the No. 15 best city to drive in, with a score of 62.90. Here’s how we ranked in each dimension:
- Cost of ownership and maintenance: 10
- Traffic and infrastructure: 23
- Safety: 88
- Access to vehicles and maintenance: 8
The best city to drive in is Raleigh, N.C., with a total score of 69.09. It’s followed by Orlando; Lincoln, Nebraska; Tampa, Florida; and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in that order.
The Motor City finished No. 100, making Detroit the worst city to drive in. Nos. 99-96 are Oakland, California; Philadelphia; San Francisco; and Newark, in that order.
