Infographic Says Angelenos Could Buy 36 Christmas Trees With Money Wasted Annually In Traffic

Screenshot/Infographic

While braving the local roadways this holiday season, Angelenos are adding one item to the top of their gift wishlists - less traffic. Or perhaps a hovercraft. Though Los Angeles suffers from clogged streets and freeways all year long, getting from point A to point B, especially near popular shopping districts, is extra unpleasant during the holidays. BodyShopBids produced an infographic detailing just how much time and money is wasted whilst sitting and grumbling in our motionless vehicles throughout the year and what we could do with that blown cash.

The infographic, "Scrooged By Holiday Traffic," culls from data and information provided by numerous sources such as TripAdvisor Annual Survey, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the National Christmas Tree Association. It claims Angelenos spend 64 hours of extra time in traffic annually, compared to the national average. Depending on your daily commute, this number may or may not strike a chord. En route from Venice to Burbank on Monday night, we spent an hour and a half battling the 405, 101 and 134 in one 24-mile trek.

Why even bother calculating these depressing numbers? Because fun estimates like "How many Christmas trees could you buy with the money you waste stuck in traffic each year?" can be determined. The infographic says L.A. residents could buy 36 Christmas trees with that money, which is estimated at $1,334. Of course, we have no reason to buy such an exorbitant amount of trees since many of us can't even manage to fit one in our dwellings, but it's an entertaining thought.

One harrowing number included in the infographic says "over 51 million Americans will hit the road between Christmas and New Year's Day." Good luck out there, Southlanders.