Bucharest has recently earned the distinction of being the 8th most congested city in the world, according to TomTom’s annual Traffic Congestion Index for 2023.

The study, which analyzed 387 cities in 55 countries, relied on data gathered from 600 million GPS devices and mobile phones worldwide. The index presents a concerning image of the city’s traffic conditions, indicating a decline in average travel speeds and a noticeable increase in congestion levels.

London topped the list as the world’s most congested city, with an average driving speed of a mere 15 km/h. However, during peak hours, the highest congestion went to Dublin, where residents lost approximately 153 additional hours due to traffic congestion.

Bucharest’s congestion level reached around 55% in 2023, marking a notable increase compared to previous years. The time required to cover a 10 km distance increased by 20 seconds, totaling 27 minutes and 40 seconds. This represents a concerning trend, as Bucharest ranked 7th in 2022 and 8th in 2021 on the same index.

One of the most congested days in the city in 2023 was November 28th, with a 10 km journey taking a daunting 36 minutes and 50 seconds to complete. Peak-hour congestion, mainly during Wednesday evenings between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM, saw a 10 km distance taking an average of approximately 41 minutes.

The index mentions also that in 2023, the city’s dwellers collectively lost an extra 150 hours due to congestion, and their fuel expenses soared by nearly 1,000 lei.

Part of the problem can be attributed to the significant increase in the number of registered cars in Bucharest and its surrounding Ilfov region over the last decade. Between 2011 and 2022, the number of registered vehicles in the area surged by over 560,000, approaching a staggering 1.8 million. Bucharest itself witnessed a growth of almost 30%, while the Ilfov region experienced a remarkable tripling of the number of registered cars, notes Hotnews.ro.