This is the Italian city that makes you waste the most hours in traffic (you know it well and it even beats New York)

Traffic is a problem that affects many cities around the world, and Italy is no exception. According to the latest TomTom Traffic Index, which analyzes global urban traffic indices of 500 cities in 62 countriesRome wins the unenviable record of the busiest city in Italy, with 103 hours lost in traffic every year. This means that, over the course of 12 months, every Roman motorist spends almost 5 days stuck in traffic jams.

But Rome is not alone. Turin and Florence they follow closely behind, with 99 and 101 hours lost respectively. Milanonce at the top of the chart, fell to third place with 100 hours lost, followed by Catania, Trieste, Palermo, Naples, Genoa and Messina.

Globally, the situation is even more critical. Barranquillain Colombia, takes first place with 130 hours lost in trafficfollowed by Indian metropolises Calcutta and Bangalore. London it is the most congested European city, with 113 hours lost.

But how does TomTom draw up this ranking?

The TomTom Traffic Index is based on an impressive amount of data, collected from various sources, including:

This data is processed to calculate several metrics, including:

For its analysis, TomTom used a representative sample of data that covers 458 billion miles driven in 2024. Additionally, for the first time, the Traffic Index includes vehicle volume information for US cities, allowing travel demand to be quantified and CO2 emissions assessed.

Another novelty this year concerns the methodology used to define city centers and metropolitan areas. TomTom has introduced a hexagonal grid system to identify interconnected areas within the city, ensuring more accurate comparisons between different cities.

But what are the causes of this phenomenon?

TomTom’s report highlights several factors, including the population growth, the increase in the number of vehicles in circulation and the inefficiency of the infrastructure. Also the bad weather hey works in progress contribute to worsening the situation. Furthermore, he explained in the report Ralf-Peter SchäferVice President of Traffic, Travel and Routing Product Management at TomTom: “the surge in e-commerce led to an increase in freight traffic, further complicating the situation. Without a move towards greater regulation and sustainable transport optionswe risk worsening congestion that impacts everyone in our cities”

And what are the possible solutions?

Cities are experimenting with several strategies to address traffic issues, including:

New Yorkfor example, recently introduced a anti-congestion toll for vehicles entering Manhattan during rush hour. This measure, although unpopular among motorists, could help reduce traffic and finance improvements in public transport.