Most congested city centers in the North America 2023

Travel times in Mexico City are 63 percent longer during heavy traffic times, making it the most traffic jam-prone large city in North America. While this figure refers to additional average travel time throughout the day, on average, weekday evening peak times make traveling by car even longer. In the United States, Los Angeles overtook New York as the most congested city in 2023. 

Effects of traffic

Although working from home became the new normal amid the pandemic, workers in the U.S. can spend, on average, some 24 to 30 minutes commuting to work, depending on the region. This can be longer in large cities, adding a significant time to people’s working days without increasing their income. Increased traffic also leads to a higher number of fatal crashes, all else being equal.

Pollution concerns

Transportation is also one of the leading contributors to carbon dioxide emissions, and traffic jams contribute to this by extending the time that cars are running. Local air pollution is also a concern, particularly in Mexico where almost 50,000 people died from air pollution exposure in 2019.