US Commuters Lose Over 100 Hours Annually in Traffic
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in the number of Americans working from home. With many still reluctant to return to the office, one major reason for this reluctance is the elimination of the daily commute. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average commute time in the United States is around 27 minutes, amounting to over 230 hours per year for full-time workers.
However, commute times are not solely determined by distance but also by traffic congestion. Rush hour traffic can significantly add to commute times, resulting in increased fuel consumption and travel expenses. Those who travel in and out of densely-populated urban areas are all too familiar with this reality.
To determine the cities with the worst traffic in each state, traffic and analytics company INRIX provided data on the average number of hours commuters lost due to traffic congestion in 2022. In the analysis, Alaska, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming were excluded due to a lack of available data. Additionally, in six places where only one city had available data, the listed city ranked as having the worst traffic by default.
The average time lost to traffic congestion each year varies from a few hours to over 100 hours, depending on the state. While many of the cities on this list are the largest in their respective states by population, there are some exceptions. For instance, although Los Angeles is California’s largest city and notorious for congested roadways, there is another city in California where traffic is even worse.
In almost every city on this list, the average number of hours spent in traffic increased in 2022 compared to the previous year. This upward trend is likely attributable to easing pandemic restrictions and more workers returning to the office. Traffic delays worsened in all but three cities on this list, with increases ranging from 3% to a staggering 380%.
It is evident that traffic congestion remains a significant issue in many cities across the United States. Commuters endure an immense loss of time and productivity due to extended commute times, impacting their lives and the economy as a whole. As traffic continues to worsen, finding effective solutions to reduce congestion and improve transportation infrastructure becomes paramount.
