Report Says Chicago Has the 2nd Worst Traffic in US, 5th in the World

When you plan your trip to Chicago, be prepared for a significant portion of your time to be spent in traffic.

The city's traffic situation, which is a result of a growing population, outdated infrastructure, and a high number of vehicles on the road, is a serious concern that needs immediate attention.

Chicago's traffic woes are not just a local complaint, they've gained global recognition.

The Windy City has officially earned a spot among the worst for driving bumper-to-bumper, not just in America, but in the world.

It's official because INRIX.com just released its 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard, saying the report analyzes and compares how communication, in this context referring to the movement of vehicles and people, differs in more than 900 cities worldwide.

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Commuters in Chicago are not alone in their traffic struggles.

They face a staggering 96 hours of delay per year, a figure that puts the city on par with Mexico City and just slightly behind Paris and London.

In comparison, New York tops the list with an additional 101 hours of delay for its commuters. These numbers should serve as a wake-up call for us all.

It's not all bad, though, because the travel time change in Chicago has actually improved, with a 1% change year over year.

Chicago is the only major city in the U.S. to notice a change in traffic compared to Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C.

It's so bad in New York, which is now the most congested city in America and the world, peak travel time has increased 13% from 2022.

If you're wondering where Rockford, ranks on the list, we did. Coming in at 826th, Rockfordians lose 10 hours a year in traffic, up 16% from 2022.

This ranking and increase in traffic hours highlight that traffic congestion is not just a problem in major cities, but also in smaller urban areas.