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A typical American driver handed over $894 last year without writing a single check, and the city that just reclaimed the top U.S. congestion spot from New York reveals why the bill keeps growing
['Hugo Rojas']
Global Current News
The typical U.S. driver lost 49 hours to traffic congestion, an 11% increase from 2024, which amounts to $894 in lost time per driver.
Drivers in Chicago lost 112 hours to traffic jams in 2025, costing the average driver $2,063.
Chicago took the top U.S. spot at 112 hours lost in 2025, up 10% from 2024, while New York’s congestion remained unchanged.
Congestion levels in New York City remained flat in 2025, and the city’s new congestion pricing policy is a likely factor in its control of traffic congestion.
The New York data point offers a tangible counterweight: congestion in London, Paris, and New York City remained at current levels or even decreased in 2025.