Quick Reminder: Top 10 European Cities with the highest traffic congestion, 2020

New research presents the European cities with the highest traffic congestion. The INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard measures traffic speeds, congestion, bike travel or time spent when using public transport.

In general, the roads of the most congested European cities are insufficiently responsive to vehicle traffic. Seven of the slowest traffic flows are recorded in capitals.

Rome is the most congested city in Europe, costing the average driver 166 hours of lost time, followed by Paris (165 hours), Dublin (154 hours), St. Petersburg (151 hours) and London (149 hours). Note that the lost hours driving in Athens are 109 and in Thessaloniki 51.

Traffic speeds are so slow in all five cities (except St. Petersburg) that time spent when cycling or using public transport is only 50% shorter than driving.

The results make it clear that cities need to keep up with the changes in mobility and traffic flow optimization. Especially as most metropolises continue to grow rapidly.

The INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard also calculated the financial impact when drivers stuck in traffic, both in Germany and the United Kingdom. Traffic congestion was estimated to cost the German economy 2.8 billion euros last year. In Munich, the loss of time cost 774 euros per driver in 2019, 587 euros per driver in Berlin and 445 euros in Düsseldorf.

Damage to the UK economy was even greater at £ 6.9bn, with London holding the lion’s share of £ 4.9bn, equivalent to £ 1,162 per driver.

Globally, Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, Istanbul and Sao Paulo are the five most congested cities in the world, due to their urban density. However, INRIX also notes that Singapore’s robust anti-congestion policies, including high vehicle ownership charges and congestion taxes, allow the city’s road network to maintain high speeds despite high urban density.

The survey has included 987 cities worldwide.

These are the top 10 European countries with the highest traffic congestion:

1. Rome, Italy
   Lost hours in congestion per driver per year: 166
   Average speed (Km/h): 17.60
2. Paris, France
   Lost hours in congestion per driver per year: 165
   Average speed (Km/h): 16.00
3. Dublin, Italy
   Lost hours in congestion per driver per year: 154
   Average speed (Km/h): 16.00
4. St. Petersburg, Russia
   Lost hours in congestion per driver per year: 151
   Average speed (Km/h): 22.40
5. London, UK
   Lost hours in congestion per driver per year: 149
   Average speed (Km/h): 16.00
6. Brussels, Belgium
   Lost hours in congestion per driver per year: 140
   Average speed (Km/h): 14.40
7. Palermo, Italy
   Lost hours in congestion per driver per year: 137
   Average speed (Km/h): 12.80
8. Lisbon, Portugal
   Lost hours in congestion per driver per year: 136
   Average speed (Km/h): 16.00
9. Moscow, Russia
   Lost hours in congestion per driver per year: 128
   Average speed (Km/h): 24.00
10. Torino, Italy
    Lost hours in congestion per driver per year: 123
    Average speed (Km/h): 14.40