• Congestion in Stuttgart increased by 14 percent in 2015, the highest increase in Europe
  • Stuttgart overtakes Cologne as Germany’s most congested city
  • Drivers in Stuttgart were stuck in gridlock for 73 hours last year, an increase of 8.5 hours from 2014
  • Four German cities rank in the top 10 most congested cities in Europe
  • Germany ranks as third most congested country in Europe for third year running

The 2015 Traffic Scorecard, published by INRIX, has revealed that of the 96 European cities analysed, Stuttgart experienced the highest increase in traffic congestion, rising by 14 percent.

2015

1. London, UK
2. Stuttgart, Germany
3. Antwerp, Belgium
4. Cologne, Germany
5. Brussels, Belgium
6. Moscow, Russia
7. Karlsruhe, Germany
8. Munich, Germany
9. Utrecht, Netherlands
10. Milan, Italy

Average Hours Wasted in Traffic

101
73
71
71
70
57
54
53
53
52

 

This resulted in drivers in Stuttgart being stuck in traffic for 73 hours on average last year, an increase of 8.5 hours from 2014, propelling it from fifth to second in the list of Europe’s most congested cities. This also meant that Stuttgart overtook Cologne as Germany’s most gridlocked city in 2015. Cologne topped this list in 2014, with Stuttgart second.

Stuttgart’s increase in traffic levels can be explained in part by declining fuel prices, a record number of newly registered vehicles in the city, continued population growth, and its status as a significant employment and business hub, with companies such as Daimler AG, Porsche AG and Bosch all based in the Stuttgart metro area. Tourism also impacts traffic levels, and the Baden-Württemberg region is one of Germany’s most popular holiday destinations.

“Stuttgart is the victim of its own success, with a robust jobs market and a growing economy leading to more car commuters, more investment and consequently more traffic.”

“The continued growth of the German economy has led to an increase in consumer spending, and along with a decrease in fuel costs, these have resulted in high demand for road travel, which has significantly increased congestion in Stuttgart and other cities across the country,” said Bryan Mistele, President & CEO, INRIX.

Country-wide, German drivers wasted on average 38 hours in congestion in 2015, down one hour from 2014. Four German cities (Stuttgart, Cologne, Karlsruhe, Dusseldorf) rank in the top 10 most congested in Europe, keeping Germany in the top three most congested countries for the third year.

London remains Europe’s gridlock capital, with drivers wasting an average of 101 hours, or more than four days, in gridlock. Belgium remains Europe’s most congested country, with drivers wasting an average of 44 hours in traffic in 2015. Worldwide, the United States leads with the highest annual hours wasted in traffic – an average of nearly 50 hours in 2015.

Read the full 2015 Traffic Scorecard.