Dublin is world’s 10th most congested city

Dublin is the 10th most congested city in the world, and the sixth most congested in Europe, according to a report from Sat Nav maker TomTom.

The TomTom fourth annual global traffic index released today claims ‘shortcuts’ to avoid congestion generally add about 50 percent to travel time, and commuters spend, on average, eight working days a year stuck in traffic.

The global index found Dublin was in the top 10 most congested cities alongside Mexico City, Istanbul and Rio de Janeiro.

It found Dublin is the sixth most congested city in Europe with a congestion of 35 per cent – meaning, on average, travel times in the city were 35 per cent longer than they would be in free-flowing, uncongested, conditions.

The situation was even worse at rush hours. In the morning rush-hour, travel times were 74 percent longer than free-flow traffic, while, in the evening, travel times were nearly as bad at 71 percent.

The figures mean drivers face a delay of 43 minutes for every hour they drive in peak periods and drivers with just a 30-minute commute waste 96 hours a year stuck in traffic jams.

The data reported by TomTom units installed in vehicles in the city showed the most congested day in Dublin in 2013 was Friday, October 18th.

The worst days of the week for traffic jams are Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings.

World's top 10 most congested cities 1 – Moscow: with a congestion ranking of 74% 2 – Istanbul: 62% 3 – Rio de Janeiro: 55% 4 – Mexico City: 54% 5 – São Paulo: 46% 6 – Palermo: 39% 7 – Warsaw: 39% 8 – Rome: 37% 9 – Los Angeles: 36% 10 – Dublin: 35%