Falling Economy Drives Traffic Congestion Down In Majority Of Italian Cities

- - INRIX Traffic Scorecard Report reveals congestion decreased in 85% of Italian cities in 2014 - Italy 10th for worst traffic in Europe with drivers wasting approximately 20 hours in gridlock - Milano and Cagliari saw the biggest increases in congestion - Milan topped the list of Italy's most congested cities, and ranked as the 7th most congested European city, with drivers spending 57 hours in traffic - A 16-mile stretch of the A4 in Milan was the most congested road; costing drivers 42 hours MILAN, Aug. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- INRIX, a leading provider of real-time traffic information and connected driving services, has published its annual Traffic Scorecard Report revealing Italian drivers wasted an average of 20 hours in congestion in 2014. Italy dropped three places to tenth in the list of Europe's most congested countries, and Italian motorists spent 31 hours less in traffic than those in Belgium, Europe's most congested country, where drivers spent 51 hours stuck in gridlock. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150324/194153LOGO The Italian economy contracted by 0.4% in 2014 and stagnated in the last quarter1. Levels of unemployment also plateaued, decreasing by 0.1% to 12.4%2. These factors have had an impact on traffic levels as demand for road travel decreased and less people commuted to work by car. Traffic congestion was up in only two of the 13 Italian metropolitan areas studied. The biggest falls in congestion were seen in Cremona (-62%) and Florence (-34%) where drivers experienced 16 and 10 fewer hours in traffic respectively. Italy's most congested metropolitan areas in 2014 (ranked by annual hours wasted): "For the first time in three years, traffic in the majority of Italy's cities has decreased," said Bryan Mistele, President and CEO, INRIX. "The contraction of the Italian economy and high unemployment have resulted in a decrease in the demand for road travel, driving down levels of congestion." Italy vs Europe: How we measure up Of the 13 European countries analysed in the report, more than half (53%) experienced a rise in levels of congestion in 2014 compared to 2013, reflective of steady economic growth. Nations struggling with high unemployment and low or negative economic growth typically recorded lower levels of traffic congestion compared to 2013. Countries in Europe with the highest levels of congestion (ranked by annual hours wasted): Italy's most congested roads The 2014 Traffic Scorecard Report also identified the worst roads for traffic in Italy and the worst times to travel. Milan proved to have the busiest roads in the country with traffic on Monday mornings and Friday evenings causing drivers to sit in traffic for up to 80 hours. Outside of Milan, the most congested road was in Turin where drivers wasted up to 23 hours in congestion. Italy's most congested roads in 2014 (ranked by annual hours wasted): Italy's most congested roads outside Milan in 2014 (ranked by annual hours wasted): The traffic situation in Europe's cities The INRIX Traffic Scorecard also analysed traffic in major metropolitan areas across Europe. Of the 94 European cities analysed in the report, nearly half (48%) experienced an increase in traffic compared to 2013. Whilst London topped the list of the 25 most congested European cities, Barcelona saw the biggest year-on-year increase in congestion, rising by 66%. Drivers in Barcelona experienced an additional 10 hours in traffic compared to 2013, rising from 15 hours wasted in traffic in 2013 to 25 in 2014. This increase can be attributed to a growing economy with GDP figures in Spain at 1.4% in 20141 – Spain's first full year growth since 2008. Unemployment in Barcelona dropped by 3% in 2014 to 20%4, driving consumer spending and increased demand for road travel and commuters travelling by car. Europe's most congested cities in 2014 (ranked by annual hours wasted): About the INRIX Traffic ScorecardThe INRIX Traffic Scorecard measures the traffic congestion problem by going beyond traditional limitations of road sensors and statistical sampling techniques by analysing an historical archive of real-time data crowd-sourced from actual vehicles travelling on major metropolitan roadways. INRIX analyses trillions of real-time data points from over a hundred sources including crowd-sourced data from a variety of commercial vehicles, including taxis, airport shuttles, service delivery vans, long haul trucks as well as consumer vehicles and mobile devices. Each data report from these GPS-equipped vehicles and devices includes the speed, location and heading of a particular vehicle at a reported date and time, without including planning time. In creating the INRIX Traffic Scorecard, INRIX analyses information for millions of kilometres of motorways and secondary roads in Europe during every hour of the day to generate the most comprehensive and timely congestion analysis to date, covering the largest metropolitan areas in 14 countries. The same data used to generate the Scorecard also powers INRIX Traffic, a free smartphone app that helps drivers avoid frustrating delays stuck in traffic. The INRIX Traffic app helps drivers never be late with insights from the world's largest traffic network into the fastest routes from home to work, recommended departure and travel times, traffic forecasts and personalised traffic alerts unique to driver's routes. More information about INRIX Traffic can be found at http://inrixtraffic.com. More details on traffic congestion in a particular country and how countries and cities compare to each other, along with an executive summary of the report's key findings are now available at scorecard.inrix.com. The extensive data powering the INRIX Traffic Scorecard is immediately available under license for further analysis and review by government agencies and commercial organisations. About INRIXINRIX is one of the fastest growing big data technology companies in the world. The company leverages big data analytics to reduce the individual, economic and environmental toll of traffic congestion. Through cutting-edge data intelligence and predictive traffic technologies, INRIX helps leading automakers, fleets, governments and news organizations make it easier for drivers to navigate their world. Our vision is simple – to solve traffic, empower drivers, inform planning and enhance commerce. Whether through an in-car or smartphone navigation application, a local newscast or our INRIX Traffic app, our up-to-the-minute traffic information and other driver services help millions of drivers save time, fuel and frustration. INRIX delivers traffic and driving-related insight, as well as sophisticated analytical tools and services across six industries covering nearly five million miles (7.9 million km) of road in 42 countries. For more information visit us at INRIX.com or download our INRIX XD Traffic App for iOS and Android. For more information visit us at www.INRIX.com. 1http://www.tradingeconomics.com/italy/gdp-growth2http://countryeconomy.com/unemployment/italy3http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG4http://www.idescat.cat/pub/?id=aec&n=318&lang=en