This post is brought to you by TomTom.
I live in a large town. The town has grown so much over the years that we have our own areas of gridlock, which I try to avoid if I happen to be silly enough to be in those areas at a certain time of the day. My town is also what used to be called a bedroom community. We’re located within an hour of two major cities, New York and Philadelphia, both of which are on the list of Top Most Congested Cities.
TOP MOST CONGESTED CITIES
1. Los Angeles
2. San Francisco
3. Honolulu
4. New York
5. Seattle
6. San Jose
7. Miami
8. Chicago
9. Washington, DC
10. Portland, Washington
11. Tampa
12. Houston
13. Austin
14. Las Vegas
15. Atlanta
16. Boston
17. San Diego
18. Orlando
19. New Orleans
20. Philadelphia
21. Tucson
22. Denver
23. Nashville
24. Sacramento
25. Riverside
26. Pittsburgh
27. Virginia Beach
28. Baltimore
29. Detroit
30. Providence
31. San Antonio
32. Dallas-Fort Worth
33. Charlotte
34. Memphis
35. Minneapolis
36. Louisville
37. Buffalo
38. Hartford
39. Raleigh
40. Cincinnati
41. Jacksonville
42. Columbus
43. Phoenix
44. Oklahoma City
45. Rochester
46. Salt Lake City
47. Milwaukee
48. St. Louis
49. Birmingham
50. Indianapolis
After looking at that list of the fifty most congested cities it struck me how so many people could probably say that if they didn’t live in one of those cities that they probably lived within a reasonably short distance to one, which means they probably spend time sitting in traffic. That’s a lot of people across the country, sitting in their cars wasting time. In fact, a 2013 study said that the average mom drives her children around for 1,248 miles per year, or the equivalent of two weeks … and that’s not counting the added hours spent in traffic.
Being stuck in traffic. It stinks. We all agree that time is valuable. It passes by quickly and you can’t get it back. The bad news is, traffic steals time away from you. The good news is that you don’t have to sit idly by (pun intended) and let traffic steal your time. There are things you can do to help minimize the amount of time you sit in traffic. One of those things is to get help from an expert – TomTom.
The TomTom GO 500 and 600 models use smart technology to help you manage traffic and get where you want to be when you want to be there. TomTom is the preferred traffic intelligence resource widely used by local government and traffic agencies to help solve mobility issues. The great thing is, the very same technology that is used by those agencies is available to you and I as consumers.
TomTom GO can help you in several ways. The database behind the TomTom Go covers 99.9% of roads, which is more than any other navigation system on the market. Access to such a massive database, including real-time traffic intelligence, helps you get where you want to go. TomTom MyDrive Cloud allows you to plan your route before you leave the house and send it directly to your GO device so that you are ready to go as soon as you get in the car. MyDrive Cloud technology has been recognized by multiple tech magazines such as ZDNet as “one of the best available”. Once you’re in the car, real-time instant traffic navigation alerts you of spots with heavy traffic or roadblocks and can redirect you to the fastest route available.
TomTom GO is super easy to install. It redefines the term user-friendly. The first thing you do is connect the unit to your computer, so that it can receive programming of the latest updates. While you’re doing this it makes sense to download and install the free TomTom MyDrive app on your mobile phone. Then you use the included windshield mount to install the unit in your car and plug it into the lighter. That’s it!
The TomTom GO has a large touchscreen with 3D display that makes for ease of use and very easy reading. If you need to zoom in or out of the map all you have to do is press once. All of the menus are conveniently located in one spot and are very easy to use. You can set things up to your liking with one or two touches, including whether or not you want to hear voice prompts and if you want to change from day to night view. When you are entering a location the TomTom uses an intuitive search that helps decrease the amount of information you have to manually enter. Once you’re undwerway the display not only shows you the route to take, but it even shows you your current rate of speed and the speed limit.
I had a GPS years ago, which I only connected when I needed directions. I fell in love with my TomTom GO the first time that I used it. It’s been so helpful on several long drives. The one and only thing I don’t like about driving in unfamiliar communities is that sometimes you wind up driving in circles because street signs aren’t marked clearly or at all. The GO will provide you with the most direct route, helping you to get where you need to be as quickly as possible. Not only does it help you get where you have to go, it also can give you valuable information you might not otherwise know such as the distance to the nearest gas station. The TomTom GO has proven to be so helpful, even in my own community, that I leave it connected all of the time now. It’s easy to use and makes getting where I have to go easier.
Spending less time on the road give me more time to spend with my family and do the things I love. The Tom Tom GO helps me spend as little time on the road as is possible.
How much time do you spend on the road and what would you do with the time you would save not stuck in traffic? Share your thoughts for a chance to win a TomTom GO!
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I spend probably 10 hours in the car each week. Sometimes a whole lot more than that though!
I’d love a TomTom Go. Now that we’ve moved to Florida, I’m having to learn all the best routes the old fashioned way. Trial and error. 😉
A built-in GPS is one thing I was hoping to get in our new car but we’ve been using Google maps on our phones which really drains our data. I would love to get a GPS!
I probably spend around 5 hours in the car each week. Not much at all.
I would say we spend about 25 hours a week, Thanks
I spend about 15 hours each week, in the car.
Wow that is a great device. I get lost in a parking lot and am horrible with directions. This could solve my problem!
probably about 9 or more per week.
I have been to a lot of these places. A Tom Tom would have been very helpful in navigating them!
Any GPS that helps me get around traffic is welcome in my life! It’s no surprise that LA makes the top of the list!
I can attest to the congestion in a number of the cities listed. Honestly, how did we ever function before GPS?
I could not tell you how much time hubby spends on the road, LOL… he is a contractor so he goes to multiple appointments a day. This would be really helpful
My GPS unit broke last year and we haven’t bought another. I miss it! I spend a small amount of time in my car a week (like 10 hours at most) but most is traveling to destinations!
I don’t spend a whole lot of time in the car each week. I would say only a few hours if even that. I honestly don’t go out very much. I do love my gps though. They really come in handy. I get lost very easily.
I Think I would save about 3 hours a week!
15-20 hours a week
I’m a prime candidate for one of these! I am horrible with directions.
i spend about 10 hours in the car this week
I don’t even want to think about the time I spend in traffic!! I love this feature from Tom Tom!
I get lost everywhere. It is so frustrating to be lost. Especially if you are running late. I should get one of these to help with that.
We live in a rural area, but sometimes we travel to Seattle. I agree, very congested! This would be very convenient to have.
I spend around 5 hours in the car each week.
I would love a Tom Tom. It will save me time and avoid getting lost
It used to be about five hours a week. That is going to increase exponentially here very very soon.
I spend a lot of time in the car so this would so work for me.
http://www.simplysassystyle.com
dawn
awesome GPS giveaway …. very convenient for everyone!!
maybe 12 hours? I so need an updated GPS. i lost the cord for mine for updates and it would cost $$ to get new maps.
I work local, so I don’t spend a lot of time in the car. I’d love this though for traveling, or for my college aged daughter to use when traveling.
Thank you!
WIth my current job, I don’t drive often, but when I do it is to the places I don’t know. Having a good GPS so helps
This would be a great Fathers Day gift for my Dad. He travels a lot and was just saying he needed a new GPS system.
I could really use a Tom Tom in my car. With kids i am always on the go. A lot of times i have no idea where a location is that we have to be at.
On average I would say 8 hours or so. Depends on the kids activities :0
about 20 hours.
I believe I could easily say ten hours a week in the car.
Around 5 hours
I spend about 5 hours a week.
hi, i’ve never thought about it before, but i’d guess around 10 hrs. a week.
I probably spend a good 10-15 hours in the car each week.
I only spend about an hour each week. Luckily I work from home so I don’t have to commute anymore.
I probably spend 5-10 hours depending on activites.
I spend at least 14 hours each week driving!
It varies, but probably about five on average.
On a normal work week, I spend about 10 hours in the car
I estimate about 10 hours every week.
I’d say about 8-10 hrs. per week. Thanks so much.
i don’t think i could get anywhere without my navigation!
I spend about 15 hours in the car each week
I probably spend about 5 hours in the car each week with my short commute to work and errand-running.
I spend about 10 hours in the car this week
Spend about 8-10 hours a week
20 work for a moving company
I probably spend about 12 hours in my car each week! That seems like a lot!
Right now about 3 hours to 4
I would say I spend roughly about 8-9 hours in the car each week.
I just moved to a town outside of Austin so I’m in my car driving about 8 hours a week, depending on traffic, of course.
Probably around 10-12
I must spend at least 15 hours a week in the car. Way to much time
I spend about 8 hours a week in the car.
I work from home, but my boyfriend commutes and probably spends 5 hours a week in the car.
Hate getting lost !
I would guess less than 10, I’m a stay at home mom currently so driving occurs taking the kids to activities so probably 1-5 hours a week!
not to many,one because I dont work,two I take care of my elderly mother.
Most weeks, I probably would say about four hours!
I drive alot so like 14 hours a week
I drive a lot, too and rush hour doesn’t help matters either.
Thankfully I only spend about 2 hours a week in the car but my husband spend closer to 6 or 7 hours a week in his.
About ten hours! every week!
I would say on average I spend about 8 hours a week in a car.
I spend about 6 hrs in the car a week
Now that I’m no longer working I don’t spend that much time in my car weekly..less than 1 hr max
It varies but I’d guess about 7 hours a week now that I am retired.
Probably around 6 hours.
I spend less than one hour in the car in a typical week
I spend about 10 hours a week, with errands and daughter’s gymnastics.
I spend 5-10 hours in the car each week.
I spend about 10 hours a week in the car.
I spend 12-15 hous a week in a car/driving…that is about 11-14 hours too many.
I spend about 5 to 7 hours per week in my car.
I am not working but my hubby does spend near 15 hours in the car each week. Some weeks even more.
About ten hours
Maybe about 2 hours a week in the car.
I spend about three hours in my car per week
About 5-10 hours depending.
I spend about 3 hours a week driving my car.
I spend about 5 hours in my car per week.
I probably spend about five hours in the car every week.
I imagine I spend about 5 hours a week in my car. Thanks for the chance.
10 hours in the car each week
I don’t spend a lot of time in my car normally, but my mom and I take at least 2 road trips a year and they are usually 8-12 hrs driving, one -way.
About 6 hrs
I probably spend about 2 hours in the car each week if I stay in our hometown. I do often have to drive 6 hours to a Dr. appointment though.
I prob spend about 12 hours in the car a week. We recently started to have to go over an hour away to children’s hospital for my daughter and I borrowed my friend’s TomTom because I had no idea where to go. And coaching softball I’m not quite sure how to get to the game locations when we have to travel! Huge helper for me but I’m sure she will like it back soon 🙂
I spend probably about 5-7 hours per week in the car.
Spend about 9-12 he’s in the car each week….. blah
in the winter maybe 14. summer on the other hand we spend probably triple that some weeks!
probably 5-10 hours a week. yay for living in la?
I spend 20 hours.
I spend a lot less time in the car than I used to, now that my kids are grown. However, I still spend about 10-15 hours driving. We moved to a new state less than a year ago and without gps, I would be lost!
Around 6 unless we take a trip…kinda makes me sad when you add it all up! LOL
I spend about 5 hours per week in the car!
I spend about 5 – 7 hours in the car a week, depending on where we go on the weekends.
I spend about 8 hours a week in the car for work
probably only like 5 on an average week
I spend about 10-15 hours per week in the car!
I spend about 8-10 hours a week in the car. We have heavy traffic during certain times.
About 5-6 hours?
Usually 10-12 hours
I spend about 15-25 hours a week in the car.
I probably spend about 6 hours in the car per week.
I spend about 10 hours in the car each week.
I spend about two.
I spend about 5 hours in my car each week
probably around 10-12 hours per week
5 hours maybe
10 to 15 hours a week or tons of time in my car in a week.
I spend at least 20 hrs a week in the car traveling to and from work.
I would say 6or 7 hours
i would say 5-6 hours a week.
I probably spend about 15 hours a week in the car.
I spend about 5 hours in the car each week, but I am able to walk to work so that only includes errands, visiting friends/family and going out with my hubby.
about 10 to 15 hours a week
I spend at least 14 hours in the car each week
Lately a lot less time time but I would have to say one or two hours daily.
Spend about 5 hours a week
Probably 5-6 hours.
I think I spend about 20 hours a week in the car. During the summer it is a lot more.
As a freelancer ~ it varies ~ usually 5-7 probably.
I might spend 4 or 5 hours each week, but if I travel with hubby for his work, It’s tons more!
7.5 hours
I have an hour commute, leaving me in the car 2 hours a day. Add taking the kids to activities and running errands. Plus all the weekend activities, wow I am in the car a lot! I never really thought about it before.
I believe it is about 8 hours a week…not too bad but could be better!
I don’t spend that many hours in the car each week but my husband does because he is a delivery driver. He spends probably close to 50 hours a week in his truck.
Atleast 8 hours a week in the car this would be helpful
I spend 10 – 12 hours a week in the car commuting to work
Probably just 5-6
Around 8 or more
I am in a car roughly 7 hours a week (work).
I would say I probably spend a average of 5 hours in a car a week. I currently don’t have a vehicle.
But I am going to be getting one soon, and I really could use the tom tom to be able to navigate my way to my new boyfriends place! it’s 45min away and down a million side roads..I’ll get lost for sure!
I spend approximately 6 hrs a week!
I am lucky, I have a short commute, so probably only 2 hours during the week, but I like to take drives and explore on the weekends!
I guess I spend 10 to 15 hours in the car each week going here and there
I spend between 5 and 10 hours in an average week in my van.We do travel monthly and most of those trips are 5-6 hours one way.
I don’t spend a lot of time in the car. Maybe a total of an hour LOL.
We have a lawn service so we are in and out of the truck about 8 hours a day. We have so been needing this!
At the very least 10+ hours!
I spend about 7 hours in the car a week. Thanks for the opportunity.
I would say I spend probably fifteen hours in the car. I love my car and I love driving.
I don’t get out much, so less than an hour~
I easily spend 12-15 hours in my car a week.
3
i would say i spend around 8 hours in the car a week depending on where im going.at the very most, 10 hours !!
I spend about 5 hours in the car each week.
Thank You for the giveaway…my total for weekdays & weekends spent driving is about 12 hours.
I drive about 20 hours per week. I work and I take my little guy to fun places like the beach or the aquarium. This would help us a lot because I get lost all the time!! I’m terrible!!
5 or 6
I have driven in most of the cities listed. Still the Jersey shore gridlock on your parkway, turnpike, interstate, and local roads during the summer tops all.