IBM published the results of its Commuter Pain Index survey, where it ranks the emotional and financial consequences of traffic congestion in 20 major international cities. Apparently the Montreal commute is the least stressful, and Toronto doesn’t do too bad itself either.
Mexico City is by far the most trying area, with Shenzen, Beijing, Nairobi, Johannesburg and Bangalore rounding out this unenviable Top 5.
Globally, around 42% of respondents reported increased stress and 35% admitted they were angrier because of traffic. The greatest number of respiratory problems due to traffic congestion were found in China and India.
When asked about the longest time they were stuck in traffic in the last three years, drivers from Mexico City, Moscow, Beijing, Shenzen and Nairobi reported two-hour delays.
It’s not all bad, though. Commuters from 14 of the 15 cities surveyed in both 2010 and 2011 said that congestion had improved either “somewhat” or “substantially”. In Toronto, 23% noted progress in 2011 compared to 8% in 2010.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean Torontonians are living it up behind the wheel. The IBM survey found that 40% of Toronto commuters were more stressed because of congestion, a 14% increase over 2010.
Note that the definition of a traffic jam varies from one region to another. Residents of Stockholm, Singapore, Madrid and Buenos Aires reported spending 30 minutes or less in heavy traffic.
Mexico City is by far the most trying area, with Shenzen, Beijing, Nairobi, Johannesburg and Bangalore rounding out this unenviable Top 5.
Globally, around 42% of respondents reported increased stress and 35% admitted they were angrier because of traffic. The greatest number of respiratory problems due to traffic congestion were found in China and India.
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| Photo: IBM |
When asked about the longest time they were stuck in traffic in the last three years, drivers from Mexico City, Moscow, Beijing, Shenzen and Nairobi reported two-hour delays.
It’s not all bad, though. Commuters from 14 of the 15 cities surveyed in both 2010 and 2011 said that congestion had improved either “somewhat” or “substantially”. In Toronto, 23% noted progress in 2011 compared to 8% in 2010.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean Torontonians are living it up behind the wheel. The IBM survey found that 40% of Toronto commuters were more stressed because of congestion, a 14% increase over 2010.
Note that the definition of a traffic jam varies from one region to another. Residents of Stockholm, Singapore, Madrid and Buenos Aires reported spending 30 minutes or less in heavy traffic.