Drivers waste nearly an entire work week each year sitting in traffic on the way to and from their jobs, according to a national study released Tuesday. The nation's drivers languished in traffic delays for a total of 4.2 billion hours in 2005, up from 4 billion the year before, according to the Texas Traffic Institute's urban mobility report. That's about 38 hours per driver.
"Things are bad and they're getting worse," said Alan Pisarski, a transportation expert and the author of "Commuting in America." The study summed it up this way: "Too many people, too many trips over too short of a time period on a system that is too small." The Los Angeles metro area had the worst congestion, delaying drivers an average of 72 hours a year. It was followed by Atlanta, San Francisco, Washington and Dallas. The least congested metro areas were Spokane, Wash., and Brownsville, Texas, where drivers were delayed an average of eight hours a year. "With the pace of growth that we have here, it's pretty difficult to reduce congestion," Hayse said. "Trying to keep it at today's level is really our goal." With already high gas prices and natural resources depreciating fast traffic is not a problem to over look. Everyone should do their part whether it be riding with someone to work or school or read up on new gas and time saving tips. This article really opened my eyes to how much time people actaully waste sitting in a car.
"Things are bad and they're getting worse," said Alan Pisarski, a transportation expert and the author of "Commuting in America." The study summed it up this way: "Too many people, too many trips over too short of a time period on a system that is too small." The Los Angeles metro area had the worst congestion, delaying drivers an average of 72 hours a year. It was followed by Atlanta, San Francisco, Washington and Dallas. The least congested metro areas were Spokane, Wash., and Brownsville, Texas, where drivers were delayed an average of eight hours a year. "With the pace of growth that we have here, it's pretty difficult to reduce congestion," Hayse said. "Trying to keep it at today's level is really our goal." With already high gas prices and natural resources depreciating fast traffic is not a problem to over look. Everyone should do their part whether it be riding with someone to work or school or read up on new gas and time saving tips. This article really opened my eyes to how much time people actaully waste sitting in a car.
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