Traffic congestion has become one of the most expensive forms of wasted time for American drivers. INRIX’s 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard shows just how severe the problem has become, with drivers in several major U.S. cities losing dozens of hours each year simply sitting in slow-moving traffic.
Chicago led the nation with 112 hours lost per driver, followed by New York with 102 and Philadelphia with 101. Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, and Atlanta also ranked among the cities where congestion consumed substantial portions of drivers’ time.
These figures reveal how heavily traffic affects commuting, productivity, household costs, and daily life across America’s busiest metropolitan areas.
1. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago claimed the unwanted No. 1 position in the United States in INRIX’s 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard, with the average driver losing 112 hours to congestion during the year…