AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TomTom (TOM2) today releases its annual Traffic Index highlighting the impact of traffic congestion in over 200 cities around the world. TomTom data reveals that traffic congestion nearly doubles journey times during the evening rush hour. In 2014, the average commuter spent an extra 100 hours a year travelling during the evening rush hour alone.
According to TomTom Traffic data, the evening rush hour is the most congested time of day. Nearly every city with the highest overall levels of congestion can expect to double their congestion level during the evening rush hour.
Commuters in Istanbul experience the worst traffic congestion overall, the evening rush hour is no exception. The average 30 minute drive in the city will take over an hour during evening rush hour, leading to an extra 125 hours wasted stuck in traffic every year. In Los Angeles, a 30 minute commute in the evening will take 54 minutes due to congestion, an extra 92 hours annually.
“TomTom’s mission is to reduce traffic congestion for everyone,” said Ralf-Peter Schaefer, VP TomTom Traffic. “Road authorities and local governments can use TomTom’s traffic data to better manage traffic flow during the rush hour. We can help businesses plan smarter working hours to help their employees avoid travelling during rush hour. And we give drivers the real-time traffic information and smart routing they need to avoid congested roads and get there faster.”
Top ten cities with the worst evening rush hour:
| Rank | City | Evening Congestion Level | Overall Congestion Level | Rank | City |
Evening Congestion
Level |
Overall Congestion Level | ||||||||
| 1 | Istanbul | 109% | 58% | 6 | Recife | 82% | 45% | ||||||||
| 2 | Moscow | 103% | 50% | 7 | Bucharest | 82% | 41% | ||||||||
| 3 | Saint Petersburg | 96% | 44% | 8 | Rio de Janeiro | 81% | 51% | ||||||||
| 4 | Mexico City | 89% | 55% | 9 | Shenzhen | 81% | 34% | ||||||||
| 5 | Chongqing | 84% | 38% | 10 | Los Angeles | 80% | 39% |
To find out more information on the Traffic Index please visit: www.tomtom.com/trafficindex
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
This year TomTom has expanded its Traffic Index to 218 cities in 36 countries. For the first time, the Index includes traffic information for China, Romania, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, and United Arab Emirates in one comprehensive report. The Traffic Index is based on data over the year of 2014.
Overall ranking of most congested cities in 2014:
| 1 | Istanbul | 58% | 6 | Recife | 45% | ||||||
| 2 | Mexico City | 55% | 7 | Saint Petersburg | 44% | ||||||
| 3 | Rio de Janeiro | 51% | 8 | Bucharest | 41% | ||||||
| 4 | Moscow | 50% | 9 | Warsaw | 40% | ||||||
| 5 | Salvador | 46% | 10 | Los Angeles | 39% |
Extended table of the top ten cities based on the evening rush hour congestion percentage:
| Evening rush hour rank | City | Evening peak congestion level | Overall congestion level | World rank (based on overall congestion level | Delay per year with a 30 minute commute during the evening rush hour (hours) | ||||||
| 1 | Istanbul | 109% | 58% | 1 | 125 | ||||||
| 2 | Moscow | 103% | 50% | 4 | 118 | ||||||
| 3 | Saint Petersburg | 96% | 44% | 7 | 110 | ||||||
| 4 | Mexico City | 89% | 55% | 2 | 102 | ||||||
| 5 | Chongqing | 84% | 38% | 12 | 97 | ||||||
| 6 | Recife | 82% | 45% | 6 | 94 | ||||||
| 7 | Bucharest | 82% | 41% | 8 | 94 | ||||||
| 8 | Rio de Janeiro | 81% | 51% | 3 | 93 | ||||||
| 9 | Shenzhen | 81% | 34% | 31 | 93 | ||||||
| 10 | Los Angeles | 80% | 39% | 10 | 92 |
To filter and sort a customized raking please visit www.tomtom.com/trafficindex
About TomTom
TomTom (TOM2) empowers movement. Every day millions of people around the world depend on TomTom to make smarter decisions. We design and develop innovative products that make it easy for people to keep moving towards their goals. Best known for being a global leader in navigation and mapping products, TomTom also creates GPS Sport Watches, as well as state-of-the-art fleet management solutions and industry-leading location-based products.
Our business consists of four customer-facing business units: Consumer, Automotive, Licensing and Telematics.
Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Amsterdam, we have 4,000 employees worldwide and sell our products in over 46 countries.
