Congestion down but fatalities up across US cities in 2020

Congestion levels fell by almost 50 percent across US cities in 2020, according to a new report from traffic analytics company Inrix.

In its 2020 Global Traffic Scorecard, which ranks congestion and traffic trends in over 1,000 cities across 50 countries, Inrix found that there has been a dramatic drop in congestion globally as a result of the pandemic.

Overall US drivers saved an average of 3.4 billion hours last year, valued at US$51 billion (£36.7 million) in time savings, when compared to 2019.

Drivers in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago spent the most time in traffic congestion, despite respective drops of 28 percent, 34 percent and 40 percent when compared to 2019.

“COVID-19 has completely transformed when, where and how people move. Government restrictions and the continued spread of the virus led to shifts in travel behavior seemingly overnight,” said Bob Pishue, Transportation Analyst at INRIX. “Morning commutes in cities across the world went without delay as people reduced auto and transit travel to offices, schools, shopping centres and other public spaces.”

While downtown traffic volumes in the US saw dramatic decreases – dropping an average of 44 percent as a result of the pandemic – drivers increased their speeds in the same areas by up to 42 percent, according to the report.

New figures released by the US National Safety Council (NSC) have shown an increase in motor vehicle fatalities in 2020, based on preliminary data — with deaths reaching their highest levels since 2007.

The NSC said fatalities spiked eight percent in 2020 to 42,060, and the estimated death rate from crashes rose 24 percent from 2019, the highest year-on-year increase since 1924.

Global picture

The Colombian capital Bogotá topped the Inrix report as world’s most congested city for the second year in a row – with drivers spending an average of 133 hours in traffic.

Despite topping the list, Bogotá saw a 31 percent drop in the number of hours motorists spent in traffic.

In the UK traffic levels plummeted by 68 percent over the past year, with drivers spending 37 hours in traffic in 2020 compared with 115 hours during 2019.

Belfast saw the largest reduction in delays (73 percent), followed by Edinburgh (69 percent) and Bristol (64 percent).

London maintained its ranking as the UK’s worst city for traffic, although the average of 69 hours lost represents a 53 percent cut compared with 2019.

“These figures really hammer home the impact the pandemic has had on traffic volumes and congestion levels – almost overnight, roads that seemed perpetually grid-locked became deserted as lockdowns were enforced and millions started working from home,” said RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis.

Image: Daniel R. Blume (Flickr)