How Much Time Charlotte Traffic Stole From Your Life Last Year
As someone who commutes forty to fifty minutes to work, I am painfully aware of how strategically placed gridlock can really ruin a day. And “a day” is an interesting way to put it. According to the traffic analytics provided by INRIX, last year, you and I lost twenty-five hours of our lives to excessive traffic slowdowns.
Here are some facts for you. In 2022, Charlotte saw an increase in trips made to the center of town. In terms of metro trip increases, this jump by The Queen City was the fourth largest such jump-ranking only behind Cologne, Germany; Berlin, Germany; and Washington D.C. As big as this is, it is easily explainable.
Last year saw HUGE increases in people returning to their offices after shutdowns and work-from-home situations that arose from the Covid-19 Global Pandemic. However, it could be worse. In fact, it could be and has been a lot worse. In 2019, we of the Charlotte Metropolitan Area lost FORTY-NINE hours to gridlock. That number fell dramatically (of course) in 2020 to eighteen hours.
All in all, in terms of time lost to traffic congestion in 2022, Charlotte ranked forty-fifth in the nation. And how much did our day-plus lost cost us? INRIX estimates that you and I and every other driver took it in the wallet to the tune of $426. That being said, there is a huge point of pride in for us in terms of the southern United States.
AT LEAST WE AREN’T ATLANTA! Residents of Georgia’s largest city lost more than three days (seventy-four hours) to gridlock last year.
North Carolina Isn't The Best State To Drive In, But It Is Ranked Pretty High
10. Indiana
Total Score: 59.04
Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 12
Traffic & Infrastructure: 20
Safety: 33
Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 17
9. Kansas
Total Score: 59.60
Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 13
Traffic & Infrastructure: 5
Safety: 40
Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 33
8. Tennessee
Total Score: 59.68
Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 1
Traffic & Infrastructure: 27
Safety: 42
Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 21
7. Texas
Total Score: 59.94
Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 20
Traffic & Infrastructure: 40
Safety: 14
Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 4
6. Idaho
Total Score: 60.51
Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 24
Traffic & Infrastructure: 2
Safety: 13
Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 42
5. North Carolina
Total Score: 60.65
Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 8
Traffic & Infrastructure: 30
Safety: 27
Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 10
4. Oklahoma
Total Score: 60.81
Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 15
Traffic & Infrastructure: 8
Safety: 30
Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 28
3. Ohio
Total Score: 61.38
Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 3
Traffic & Infrastructure: 28
Safety: 36
Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 7
2. Georgia
Total Score: 61.41
Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 2
Traffic & Infrastructure: 32
Safety: 29
Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 9
1. Iowa
Total Score: 62.61
Cost of Ownership & Maintenance: 7
Traffic & Infrastructure: 9
Safety: 35
Access to Vehicles & Maintenance: 19
