Driver “Shortcuts” Stretch Travel Time 50%

When drivers try shortcuts to avoid traffic congestion, they end up lengthening their average travel time by half, according to TomTom International NV.

The Amsterdam-based navigation service provider's annual Traffic Index report says traffic congestion is on the rise worldwide and it's worse on secondary routes than on main highways.

The analysis, based on anonymous tracking data collected from TomTom customers, figures the average commuter wastes the equivalent of eight days per year stuck in traffic.

TomTom's fourth annual Traffic Index shows that Moscow, which topped last year's list, remains the most congested city among those surveyed. In second place, again, is Istanbul, followed by Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City and Sao Paulo.

The index ignores cities in Asia, where big-city traffic clogs are legendary.

The analysis compares travel times for passenger vehicles during rush hour with travel times when traffic is light, then expresses the difference as a percentage increase. In Moscow, for example, trips take 74% longer during rush hour. By comparison, rush-hour trips in Dublin the list's 10th-most-congested city take 35% longer.

TomTom says the five most congested cities in the U.S. are Los Angeles (36%), San Francisco (32%), Honolulu (29%), Seattle (27%) and San Jose, Calif. (26%). The worst cities in Canada and Mexico are Vancouver (35%) and Mexico City (54%), respectively.

In Europe, the busiest cities after Moscow and Istanbul are Palermo, Italy (39%), Warsaw (39%) and Rome (37%).