Graph and download economic data for Mean Commuting Time for Workers (5-year estimate) in Orange County, CA (B080ACS006059) from 2009 to 2023 about Orange County, CA; commuting time; Los Angeles; workers; average; CA; 5-year; and USA.

According to a recent report released by TomTom, drivers during the rush hour commute can expect congestion levels to significantly increase their commute time. On average, drivers will spend double the time in the car for most large metropolitan areas across the world during the evening commute alone. The average commuter spent an extra 100 hours a year traveling during the evening rush hour.In Los Angeles (Ranked 1st in the United States (U.S.) and 10th Worldwide), a 30 minute commute in the evening will take 54 minutes due to congestion, an extra 92 hours annually. Commuters in the San Francisco Bay Region are only slightly better off than their counter parts in Los Angeles. The measured congestion in San Francisco (Ranked 2nd in the U.S. and 26th Worldwide) is at 34%, while San Jose (Ranked 6th in the U.S. and 51st Worldwide) is at 30%.TomTom roadway congestion is measured as an increase in overall travel times when compared to the posted speed limits on roadways. For example, a Congestion Level of 12% corresponds to 12% longer travel times. The latest results and press release can be viewed here: https://www.tomtom.com/traffic-index/

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.