Sustainability Infrastructure

People in these cities lose the most time in traffic congestion

Chicago drivers spent the most amount of time in traffic last year.

by Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech | Jan. 10, 2023

The average commuter in the U.S. “lost” an average of 51 hours sitting in traffic in 2022, a 15-hour increase over 2021, according to a new report. (Getty Images)

Story at a glance

  • Transportation analytic company INRIX released data on Tuesday breaking down in which cities drivers lost the most amount of time in traffic.
  • Chicago drivers came in at No.1, wasting the most amount of time in traffic congestion.  
  • On average, drivers in the Windy City lost 155 hours in congestion last year.

Chicagoans wasted the most amount of time in traffic last year out of all drivers in the United States, according to new data from transportation analytic company INRIX.  

INRIX released its 2022 Global Traffic Scorecard Tuesday ranking more than 1,000 cities across the planet on how much time motorists spend in road congestion.  

Chicago drivers spent an average of 155 hours in congestion in 2022, according to the data, marking a nearly 50 percent increase from 2021 numbers and a 7 percent increase compared to pre-pandemic averages.  

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Boston drivers wasted the second-highest number of hours on crowded roadways, and New York drivers squandered the third-highest amount of time in traffic with drivers in both cities spending an average of 134 hours and 117 hours in congestion, respectively, last year.  

Drivers in Philadelphia and Miami spent the fourth and fifth most time in traffic in 2022. On average, Philly drivers lost 114, while Miami drivers lost 105 hours while stuck in traffic.  

“Oil price increases around the world have resulted in soaring gasoline and diesel prices over the last year,” wrote Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX. “Despite higher fuel costs, people have continued to drive.”  

The typical driver in the U.S. spent 51 hours in traffic last year, 15 hours more than in 2021. Fuel costs for the average U.S. driver tallied $134 more in 2022 than the year before.  

INRIX analysts found that Los Angeles commuters spent $315 more last year on gas than in 2021, while fuel cost New York drivers an extra $213 in 2022.  

Here are the 10 cities and highways where drivers spent the most amount of time in traffic in 2022:  

  1. Chicago — 155 
  1. Boston — 134 
  1. New York City — 117 
  1. Philadelphia — 114 
  1. Miami — 105 
  1. Los Angeles — 95 
  1. San Francisco — 97 
  1. Washington, D.C. — 83 
  1. Houston — 74 
  1. Atlanta — 74 

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