Roads are crazy busy again despite legions of remote workers

The pandemic may have created legions of remote workers, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the roads. When it comes to traffic, we're basically back in 2019.

According to INRIX's Global Traffic Scorecard , 2023 saw increases in traffic congestion in 78% of the urban areas analyzed versus 2022. Compared to pre-COVID times, 54% of urban areas experienced more delay in 2023 than in 2019. About 41% of urban areas are still below pre-COVID levels in terms of traffic, while just 5% are at similar levels.

"Traffic congestion is both a bane and a barometer of economic health; it symbolizes bustling activity yet simultaneously hampers it," Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a statement . "Reflecting on 2023 and early 2024, the surge in traffic congestion in urban areas indicated a revival of economic hubbub post-COVID, but it also led to billions of dollars in lost time for drivers."

Despite signs of recovery, though, some aspects of the pandemic are sticking around.

"Although congestion is returning to pre-COVID levels, we're seeing interesting changes in congestion patterns due to the lingering effects of the pandemic," Pishue said. "The continuation of hybrid and remote work is creating new travel peaks from what we've seen previously."

That includes the emergence of a new phenomenon: the midday rush hour.

According to INRIX, morning hourly commute trips in 2023 were down about 12% compared to 2019 and the evening peak (3-6 p.m.) was down just 9%. However, average hourly traffic during the midday was up a staggering 23%, a trend that has continued to remain since 2020.

Overall, the data shows that per hour, nearly the same number of trips start during the midday as the evening commute period, which is typically the most congested period of the day. INRIX says the analysis shows 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the new "9-to-5," indicating a more hybrid work commute pattern.

Increased levels of congestion mean more people are losing time -- and money -- to traffic. According to the scorecard, the average driver lost 42 hours to traffic congestion last year, up 11% from 2022, costing $733 per driver.

The report shows New York City is the most congested city in the country, where the typical driver lost 101 hours to traffic jams in 2023. That's followed by Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Houston, Atlanta and Seattle rounding out the top 10 jammed up cities.