Traffic Index 2018

June 10, 2019 March 8, 2023

The Traffic Index 2018, published by TomTom, a company offering traffic solutions, has ranked 403 cities across 56 countries. The index is based on the amount of time drivers spend on the road, and it factors in peak hours, accidents, inclement weather, construction work, and all other factors that are likely to cause disruptions.

How the Index Was Measured

The index takes into account congestion, which is defined in terms of the additional time taken to reach a destination as opposed to when the road would have been clear of traffic. The statistics are calculated using GPS data from navigation devices, in-dash systems, and smartphones.

Findings of the Study

The study found that about 75% of the cities included in the 2018 index had increased or stable congestion levels between 2017 and 2018, and only 90 cities showed a measurable decrease. Globally, traffic congestion is rising, which is both good and bad. It’s good because it indicates a strong global economy, but the flip side is drivers wasting time sitting in traffic, which is also resulting in a huge environmental impact.

The index also found that Christmas Day resulted in the least traffic congestion globally in 2018, and an individual stuck in traffic in 2018 could have completed listening to one audio-book per week.

Mumbai and Delhi

Mumbai was the most traffic-congested city in the world for the second straight year, with Delhi at fourth place. The traffic congestion during morning and evening peak hours varies between 73% and 102% in the Indian cities of Mumbai and Delhi.

The index notes that August 8 was the worst day to drive in Delhi, owing to the movement of VIPs and restrictions put in place in the run-up to Independence Day celebrations, with traffic congestion of about 83%. August 21 was the worst day on the road in Mumbai, with traffic congestion of 102% owing to heavy showers and work on multiple Metro rail lines. The traffic flows most freely between 2 am and 5 am in both cities, and the least congestion last year happened on March 2 (-16%), the second day of Holi.