Commuters spend average 10 business days stuck in traffic every year
EAST London is the third most congested city in South Africa.
This according to TomTom, a supplier of location and navigation products and services, which published its fourth annual global traffic index on Tuesday, June 3. To create the index, TomTom collects data from its users around the globe - data which is then analysed to draw conclusions about the traffic situation in large cities.
The index found that Cape Town was the most congested city in 2013, stealing the 2012 title from Johannesburg, which is now placed second. East London outranked Pretoria, Durban and Pretoria for third place, TomTom said. Cape Town and Johannesburg scored an average of 27% and 25% congestion respectively, while East London scored 22%.
South Africa's overall congestion level was 21%, and South Africans spent an average of an extra 13 minutes per hour stuck in traffic.
Taking to the Daily Dispatch's , East Londoners expressed their frustration at the high congestion around the city.
Warren Groenewald said he believed it was poor city planning that resulted in the high congestion around East London. "The traffic volumes aren't high, but the road network is so poorly planned that traffic backs up quickly. Just think Fleet Street, Settlers Way, NEX to Abbotsford, Gonubie, Amalinda Main," Groenewald said.
"It's quite shocking actually now I think about it. And yes, I have spent time in major cities and seen serious traffic jams, but perhaps East London is as bad as they say."
Some of the worst traffic in East London occurs on the N2's Gonubie turn-off, largely as a result of ongoing road construction on the Gonubie Main Road. Other high congestion areas include:
- In the morning: Batting Bridge, Beacon Bay;
- the Mdantsane access road;
- Amalinda Main Road; and
- Settlers Way.
The index also found that East London is the only South African city to experience especially high evening peak periods to match morning congestion. East London experiences the same amount of congestion during morning and evening peak periods at a level of 47%.
Other cities monitored by TomTom have higher morning peaks that decline greatly come the evening peak periods.
According to the index Cape Town experiences the most congestion during morning peak periods with a congestion level of 71%. Cape Town's also experiences the worst evening peak congestion period with a level of 58% - higher than the average congestion of the top ranking cities like Los Angelos, Mexico City, Rome and Rio de Jeneiro.
The index also showed that congestion on secondary roads is worse than main roads in South Africa and that commuters are spending an average of 10 working days a year stuck in traffic.
“This is creating a new set of challenges for local authorities looking for solutions to the increasing traffic problem,” TomTom said.
South Africa is also the only country in the world measured by TomTom to experience its worst congestion on a Monday morning while most of the world experiences their worst congestion on a Tuesday morning.
The table below summarises the standings of the South African cities whose congestion levels are tracked by TomTom:
|
TomTom Traffic Index 2013 | |
SA City | Global rank | Congestion level | |
Cape Town | 33 / 138 | 27% | |
Johannesburg | 48 / 138 | 25% | |
East London | 65 / 138 | 22% | |
Pretoria | 73 / 138 | 22% | |
Durban | 98 / 138 | 18% | |
Bloemfontein | 134 / 138 | 12% | Here are the top 10 most congested cities in the world along with their congestion levels:
- Moscow: 74%
- Istanbul: 62%
- Rio de Janeiro: 55%
- Mexico City: 54%
- São Paulo: 46%
- Palermo: 39%
- Warsaw: 39%
- Rome: 37%
- Los Angeles: 36%
- Dublin: 35%
East London ranks third for most congested SA city
EAST London is the third most congested city in South Africa.
This according to TomTom, a supplier of location and navigation products and services, which published its fourth annual global traffic index on Tuesday, June 3. To create the index, TomTom collects data from its users around the globe - data which is then analysed to draw conclusions about the traffic situation in large cities.
The index found that Cape Town was the most congested city in 2013, stealing the 2012 title from Johannesburg, which is now placed second. East London outranked Pretoria, Durban and Pretoria for third place, TomTom said. Cape Town and Johannesburg scored an average of 27% and 25% congestion respectively, while East London scored 22%.
South Africa's overall congestion level was 21%, and South Africans spent an average of an extra 13 minutes per hour stuck in traffic.
Taking to the Daily Dispatch's , East Londoners expressed their frustration at the high congestion around the city.
Warren Groenewald said he believed it was poor city planning that resulted in the high congestion around East London. "The traffic volumes aren't high, but the road network is so poorly planned that traffic backs up quickly. Just think Fleet Street, Settlers Way, NEX to Abbotsford, Gonubie, Amalinda Main," Groenewald said.
"It's quite shocking actually now I think about it. And yes, I have spent time in major cities and seen serious traffic jams, but perhaps East London is as bad as they say."
Some of the worst traffic in East London occurs on the N2's Gonubie turn-off, largely as a result of ongoing road construction on the Gonubie Main Road. Other high congestion areas include:
The index also found that East London is the only South African city to experience especially high evening peak periods to match morning congestion. East London experiences the same amount of congestion during morning and evening peak periods at a level of 47%.
Other cities monitored by TomTom have higher morning peaks that decline greatly come the evening peak periods.
According to the index Cape Town experiences the most congestion during morning peak periods with a congestion level of 71%. Cape Town's also experiences the worst evening peak congestion period with a level of 58% - higher than the average congestion of the top ranking cities like Los Angelos, Mexico City, Rome and Rio de Jeneiro.
The index also showed that congestion on secondary roads is worse than main roads in South Africa and that commuters are spending an average of 10 working days a year stuck in traffic.
“This is creating a new set of challenges for local authorities looking for solutions to the increasing traffic problem,” TomTom said.
South Africa is also the only country in the world measured by TomTom to experience its worst congestion on a Monday morning while most of the world experiences their worst congestion on a Tuesday morning.
The table below summarises the standings of the South African cities whose congestion levels are tracked by TomTom:
Here are the top 10 most congested cities in the world along with their congestion levels:
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