We’ve got some very not-shocking at all news for ya, Atlanta: Georgia just ranked as the #1 most stressful state in the country to drive in, according to data from a new study conducted by A1 Auto Transport. And even though this might not be the most shocking news in the world, we do now have it officially on the record. Georgia has the worst and most stressful traffic. Keep scrolling to learn more.
What are the top 10 most stressful states to drive in?
- Georgia
- Florida
- California
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Illinois
- Ohio
- New York
- New Jersey
- Michigan
Georgia’s stress index, according to the data, is 88.31. The next highest, Florida, is 86.39.
A1 Auto Transport’s study reports,
Georgia claims the top spot with a stress index of 88.31, driven by a dangerous combination of factors. The state recorded 1,491 fatal crashes in 2023 and faces an average of 2.90 natural disasters annually, nearly three times the risk of states like California. Traffic intensity sits at 1,565 vehicle-miles per lane-mile, meaning Georgia’s roads handle substantial congestion without the infrastructure density of larger states.
Where did they get this information?
Well, other than just driving through Atlanta at rush hour once, which we’re convinced would do the job… lol!
But on a serious note, A1 Auto Transport analyzed three key factors relating to traffic stress:
- traffic intensity (annual vehicle-miles traveled per lane-mile)
- long-term natural disaster frequency (1980-2025 averages)
- road safety (2023 fatal crashes)
*Data came from the Federal Highway Administration, World Population Review (FEMA/NOAA data), and NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Each factor was normalized and weighted, traffic at 40%, crashes at 35%, disasters at 25%, creating a Driving Stress Index from 0 to 100.
Joe Webster, the Marketing Director at A1 Auto Transport, said in a statement,
When you’re transporting vehicles across the country, you see firsthand how different states present unique challenges. We wanted to quantify what drivers instinctively feel, that some states are just harder to navigate than others.
Like we said… this might not be a big shocker, but it IS validating to see it proven!