Traffic congestion remains a persistent challenge for major cities worldwide, including in Indonesia. For years, Jakarta has been synonymous with traffic jams in Indonesia. However, the latest findings reveal a new frontrunner. The TomTom Traffic Index 2024 identifies Bandung as the 12th most congested city globally, with Medan not far behind, ranking 15th. Jakarta, surprisingly, now lags far below in congestion rankings.
The TomTom Traffic Index, which analyzes 500 cities across 62 countries on six continents, assesses traffic patterns based on average travel times and congestion levels. According to the report, Bandung drivers spend an average of 32 minutes and 37 seconds to cover just 10 kilometers. This places the city right behind Kumamoto in Japan.
Medan follows closely, with the same average travel time of 32 minutes and 37 seconds per 10 kilometers, ranking just below Manila, Philippines, at 32 minutes and 10 seconds. Palembang, another Indonesian city, secures 53rd place with an average travel time of 27 minutes and 55 seconds, while Jakarta ranks 90th, taking 25 minutes and 31 seconds for the same distance.
Traffic congestion remains a global challenge as urbanization accelerates, and Indonesian cities are no exception. Ralf-Peter Schäfer, Vice President of Traffic at TomTom, explains why the problem persists:
“Outdated infrastructure and inefficient road planning fail to meet rising demands. Additionally, the surge in e-commerce has led to increased delivery traffic, further complicating the situation,” Schäfer said.
He stressed the importance of addressing these issues through better regulations and sustainable transportation alternatives. “Urban mobility is shaped by the interaction between static factors that define efficient travel potential and dynamic factors that cause variability and disruptions experienced by road users,” he added.
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The TomTom Traffic Index utilizes data collected from various moving vehicles. In its 2024 edition, the study analyzed a vast dataset, representing 458 billion miles (737 billion kilometers) of travel. This extensive scope allows TomTom to monitor and explain shifts in traffic patterns across the globe.
To ensure greater accuracy, the latest edition of the index has also updated its methodology for defining city centers and metropolitan areas. These revisions aim to better reflect real-world traffic conditions and facilitate more precise comparisons between cities.
As cities like Bandung and Medan climb the global congestion rankings, the need for innovative solutions becomes more urgent. Without improvements in infrastructure and transport planning, traffic congestion will continue to hinder urban mobility, impacting the daily lives of millions of commuters.
