Metro Manila has clinched the title of having the ‘world’s worst traffic in metro area,’ surpassing 387 other metropolitan regions in a recent revelation by the TomTom Traffic Index. The Philippine capital ascended to the top spot, outdoing Bogota, Colombia, which now ranks fifth.
According to the data provided by TomTom, a renowned traffic data provider and location technology company, motorists in Manila experienced an average commute time of 25 minutes and 30 seconds for every 10 kilometers in 2023. This marked an increase from the previous year, with the average journey taking 50 seconds longer.
Following closely behind Manila in the traffic congestion ranking were Lima, Peru, Bengaluru, India, Sapporo, Japan, and Taichung, Taiwan. The report highlighted that throughout the year, Manila’s motorists spent a staggering 240 hours in traffic, with 117 of these hours consumed during rush-hour congestion. The average speed during these peak times dropped to a mere 19 kilometers per hour.
The TomTom Traffic Index also pinpointed the most challenging period for Manila drivers, noting that Fridays between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. proved the most difficult, requiring 35 minutes and 30 seconds to traverse 10 kilometers.
In a separate category, Manila also secured the 9th position for the worst traffic congestion in city centers globally, a list where London maintained its position as the city with the slowest city center traffic.
The TomTom Traffic Index utilizes floating car data collected from numerous sources, covering an expansive 551 billion kilometers globally over the course of a year.