Washington, D.C., now tops the list of U.S. cities with the worst traffic, overtaking Los Angeles, according to new research by ConsumerAffairs.
The nation’s capital posted the longest average commute in the country at 33.4 minutes and more than six and a half hours of daily congestion, adding up to roughly 71 days per year spent in traffic. On the upside, D.C. ranks low in fatal crash rates, with fewer than six per 100,000 residents.
Los Angeles, long infamous for traffic gridlock, dropped to second but still suffers nearly eight hours of weekday congestion — about 85 days of traffic jams each year. Experts say LA’s sprawling layout makes neither public transit nor driving efficient.
Miami vaulted to third place, fueled by a jump in congestion to over six and a half hours per weekday. Its fatal crash rate, however, is worse than the national average, making it the only top-five city where congestion and deadly crashes both rank high.
San Francisco held steady at fourth. It has the nation’s second-longest average commute — 32.1 minutes — but one of the lowest fatal crash rates among major metros. Atlanta rounded out the top five, climbing from eighth place last year, with commutes averaging over 31 minutes.
Researchers have found that severe traffic congestion often correlates with strong economic growth, as job opportunities and population growth lead to increased car usage on roads.
On the opposite end, Rochester, New York, ranked as the metro area with the least congestion, with an average commute of just 21.2 minutes. Other relatively congestion-free cities include Salt Lake City, Cleveland and Hartford.
Source: Consumer Affairs