Across the globe, traffic congestion is reaching new heights, frustrating commuters and travelers alike while prompting cities and major transportation hubs to rethink their strategies. In the United States, 2024 marked a year of record-breaking gridlock, with congestion not only returning to pre-pandemic levels but also spreading to more hours of the day and week. Meanwhile, London’s Heathrow Airport, the busiest in Europe, is taking decisive—if controversial—steps to address its own mounting traffic woes as passenger numbers soar.
For many Americans, the daily grind behind the wheel has become more grueling than ever. According to researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, who have tracked congestion since the 1980s, the average American spent 63 hours stuck in traffic last year. That’s not just a return to the old normal; in many places, it’s worse than before the COVID-19 pandemic. The delays are no longer confined to the traditional rush hours. Instead, they’re creeping into weekends and stretching across more hours of the day, making traffic a near-constant headache for drivers.
“We are back. But the delay kind of has a different feel to it than it did before,” said David Schrank, a senior research scientist at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, in an interview with NPR. Schrank explained that while the morning and evening rushes remain the worst times to drive, congestion is now a problem at all hours. “It’s spread out over more of the day, and thus it’s not just a commuter issue. Everyone is experiencing more of that delay.”
The data reveal that Mondays are the lightest traffic day, while Thursdays are now nearly as congested as Fridays. Weekends, once a relative respite from weekday gridlock, have also seen a notable uptick in delays. Trucks, which had shifted some of their traffic to off-peak hours during the pandemic, are again contributing significantly to rush-hour slowdowns, with truck-related delays climbing back toward pre-pandemic levels.
Some cities are feeling the pain more than others. San Diego experienced the largest percentage jump in hours of delay per commuter since 2019—an eye-popping increase of more than 37%. Miami, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area also saw significant spikes. But nowhere is the problem more acute than in Greater Los Angeles, where the average commuter lost 137 hours to traffic delays in 2024, according to the Texas A&M report. That’s nearly six full days a year spent idling in traffic jams.
Michael Manville, a professor of urban planning at the University of California, Los Angeles, isn’t surprised by these findings. “Congestion moves largely in sync with broader patterns in regional economies. And so if you have the economy doing well, congestion tends to be worse. If you have a recession, it tends to be a little bit better,” Manville told NPR.
However, not every city is following the same script. Washington, D.C., for instance, has actually seen a decrease in congestion. Researchers suggest this may be due to the continued prevalence of remote work in federal agencies, as well as the adoption of dynamic toll pricing—a strategy that charges drivers higher tolls during peak hours. Robert Puentes, vice president and transportation expert at the Brookings Institution, lives in Northern Virginia and has witnessed firsthand how dynamic pricing can help ease congestion. “If you’re going to contribute to the excessive congestion during the peak and the evening rush hours perhaps, you’re going to be paying more for the tolls,” Puentes explained. He believes this approach holds promise for other metropolitan areas, noting, “It’s something that really could be applicable in other metropolitan areas. We see places in Texas and California, in other places, that are using it. I think it has a real future in this country.”
On the East Coast, New York City launched an ambitious congestion pricing plan in January 2025, charging drivers up to $9 to enter Lower Manhattan. Early reports indicate that traffic in the toll zone has already dropped, but it’s still too soon to know how much the new policy will alter commuting patterns throughout the region.
While American cities grapple with their own gridlock, London Heathrow Airport is facing a different but related challenge: how to manage the tidal wave of cars dropping off a record number of passengers. In 2024, Heathrow set a new benchmark, welcoming 83.9 million travelers. To keep up with this surge, the airport has announced that, starting January 1, 2026, it will raise its drop-off fee from £6 to £7 (about $8 to $9.30 USD) and strictly enforce a 10-minute time limit for passenger drop-offs.
The new rules are a direct response to mounting congestion and are designed to improve traffic flow around the terminals. Drivers who overstay the 10-minute limit will face a £40 penalty, which doubles to £80 if not paid within 14 days. The £7 fee must also be paid online within 24 hours of arrival, or drivers risk receiving a penalty notice at their registered address. These measures are part of a broader review of airport practices across the UK, as Heathrow aims to streamline its operations and reduce bottlenecks.
But the changes have not been universally welcomed. Frequent travelers and locals who rely on the airport for regular drop-offs have voiced their frustration, arguing that the higher fee and threat of fines add stress to an already tense travel experience. Heathrow’s management has indicated that the Terminal Drop-Off Charge and car park pricing will be reviewed annually, suggesting a willingness to adapt as conditions evolve.
Heathrow’s decision comes at a pivotal moment for UK airports, which are still recovering from the pandemic’s impact. As passenger numbers rebound and approach pre-pandemic levels, airports across the country are seeking ways to manage demand and improve efficiency. Heathrow, as Europe’s busiest airport and a crucial hub for transatlantic and European flights, is under particular pressure to keep its sprawling infrastructure running smoothly.
In addition to the stricter drop-off policy, Heathrow is expanding car parks and enhancing digital services to improve customer convenience. The airport’s strategy aims to deliver a more organized and efficient passenger experience, even as it faces backlash from those who feel burdened by the new fees.
Whether in the daily commute on American highways or in the bustling drop-off lanes of a major international airport, the challenge of congestion is proving stubborn and complex. As cities and transportation hubs experiment with new policies—from dynamic toll pricing to stricter enforcement and fee hikes—the delicate balance between efficiency and customer satisfaction remains elusive. For now, travelers and commuters can only hope that these efforts will eventually clear a path through the world’s growing traffic jams.