Aggressive Driving on the Rise during the Holiday Season

'Tis the season to celebrate peace and goodwill towards one another. However, there is one thing standing in the way of achieving this harmony: aggressive driving. This issue seems to be escalating in cities like Tucson, Arizona, and Nashville, Tennessee, among others as the days grow shorter and the holiday shopping lists grow longer. Surprisingly, in places like Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Providence, Rhode Island, drivers manage to maintain their composure.

This insight comes from Gas Buddy, a gasoline price tracking service that has millions of users who rely on their smartphone app for real-time gas prices. Interestingly, the app offers an optional feature that assists Gas Buddy in studying aggressive driving patterns.

Known as the 'Drives Feature,' this optional tool requires users to activate it manually. By utilizing the phone's accelerometer, it tracks instances of fast acceleration, hard braking, and speeding. Through gentle reminders, drivers are encouraged to avoid these behaviors in order to maximize their car's fuel efficiency.

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Increased Aggressive Driving During the Holidays

According to Gas Buddy's latest report, U.S. drivers exhibit up to 48% more aggression on the roads during the holiday season. The company analyzed a staggering 8,149,863 drives across the top 50 metropolitan areas by population, specifically focusing on the Thanksgiving period. This study revealed that the most common aggressive driving behaviors during the holidays are hard braking (1), speeding (2), and rapid acceleration (3).

Naughty List: Cities with the Most Aggressive Holiday Drivers

Here are the top 10 cities notorious for their aggressive holiday drivers:

1. Tucson, Ariz.
2. Nashville, Tenn.
3. Orlando
4. Jacksonville, Fla.
5. New Orleans
6. Richmond, Va.
7. Salt Lake City
8. Buffalo, N.Y.
9. Memphis, Tenn.
10. Oklahoma City

Interestingly, two cities in Florida have consistently made it onto the "naughty list" for two consecutive years, with Tampa slipping to the 13th spot this year. Additionally, New Orleans climbed from 14th place in 2022 to secure a spot in the top 10 most aggressive cities in the current year.

Top 10 Cities with the Least Aggressive Holiday Drivers

1. Minneapolis
2. Providence, R.I.
3. Portland, Ore.
4. Seattle
5. Cleveland
6. Norfolk, Va.
7. Hartford, Conn.
8. Las Vegas
9. Rochester, N.Y.
10. Columbus, Ohio