10 cities with the biggest traffic jams

Think you're having a hard time getting to work? Try living in one of these cities.

Travel and the daily commute are two of the most common things we do in our daily life. Statistics show that we spend almost an eighth of our life on the road, while traveling or commuting to school or work. Some cities have long and wide roads that often can't be free on weekends, making the trip a breeze. However, in other cities there are roads that are constantly filled with cars and public transport, so traffic becomes very hectic, which affects the daily life of passengers. Below are the 10 largest cities with the most congested traffic:

10. Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok attracts tourists and shoppers from all over the world, but its large population causes a significant amount of traffic problems in the city. The increase in the number of vehicles in Bangkok, which is attributed to the tax refund for new car owners in 2012, contributed to congestion on the roads. Although the government encouraged people to buy new cars, the city's infrastructure did not improve. There are currently over 5 million vehicles in the city, but the road infrastructure can only accommodate 2 million vehicles. According to a study by INRIX Inc., in 2016, passengers in Bangkok spent an average of 64.1 hours in traffic.

9. London, England

Buses, vans, taxis, trucks and cars often get stuck in London traffic in the morning, making it difficult to travel to school or work. In an attempt to fix this, an overload tax was imposed on drivers in 2003. The board was initially successful as vehicles moved at an average speed of 10.9 mph compared to the previous year when they traveled at an average speed of 8.8 mph. However, in 2015, the average speed for vehicles in this zone slowed down to 8.3 mph. The worsening traffic situation is attributed to the increase in the number of Uber employees, Amazon delivery and the installation of bike lanes in the city.

8. Mumbai, India

Traffic jams are an integral part of driving on Mumbai's roads. Although the city was once known for its discipline on the roads, it now ranks among the cities with the worst traffic congestion. The main reason for traffic jams in Mumbai is ignorance of traffic rules. For example, jumps in traffic signals, disrespect for pedestrians, narrowing of the lane and even overtaking on the other side. There has also been an increase in the number of private cars on the roads, and continued infrastructure development also accompanies travel.

7. Beijing, China

According to AutoNavi Software Co in 2015, people in Beijing spend an average of 32 minutes per hour in traffic jams during peak hours. Proletary Stadium became the most congested road in the country in 2015, with an average traffic jam of 162 hours from April to July. According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, the average speed in Beijing is 7.5 mph. The main reason for congestion in Beijing is too many cars. In 2010, there were over 5 million cars and 20 million people on the streets of Beijing. In 2015, in an attempt to reduce traffic congestion, the Beijing government began to restrict licensing of new cars and cut the cost of metro travel.

6. Los Angeles, USA

In 2015, drivers in the Los Angeles-Santa Ana region averaged 81 hours in traffic, worse than any metropolitan area in the US, according to INRIX research. The main cause of congestion in this area is the semi-dense movement pattern.

5. Luanda, Angola

Luanda is the capital of Angola with a population of over 6 million. Luanda is known to be one of the most expensive cities to live in, with 53% of people living in poverty. Traffic jams are also a major problem in Luanda. The main reason for traffic jams in the city is bad roads. They are currently undergoing renovation.

4. Cairo, Egypt

The metropolis of Cairo is home to over 19 million people, which is more than one-fifth of Egypt's population. Traffic congestion in Cairo is a serious problem and has an adverse impact on the economy and the quality of life of its people. The longer vehicles are stuck in motion, the more fuel they consume. Due to long-term traffic jams, the amount of harmful emissions into the environment has increased. Fuel subsidies are a major cause of congestion in Cairo, as inexpensive fuel encourages residents to buy cars.

3. Sao Paulo, Brazil

Sao Paulo is experiencing a crowded road network with traffic jams that can reach 100 km or even up to 200 km during bad weather and weekends. Sao Paulo is the seventh most populous country in the world, with a population of about 11.3 million. There are over 7 million cars in the city. Traffic congestion in São Paulo has resulted in long journeys, high air pollution and difficulties in doing business that depends on delivery times. Traffic is growing in Sao Paulo at a rate of 7.5% per year. Every day, São Paulo citizens spend an average of three to four hours stuck in traffic, resulting in delays in travel.

2. Dhaka, Bangladesh

In Dhaka, traffic jams have become unbearable. They are associated with poor urban planning, poor road networks that are often destroyed during floods because they lack adequate drainage, lack of alternative routes and narrow roads. Some say that more roads are needed in Dhaka to facilitate traffic, as only 7% of the land is covered by a road.

1. Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos is one of the largest cities in the world with a population of about 21 million. The city is also known for its crazy traffic jams. Fuel subsidies have made it inexpensive to have a car, leading to congestion. The route to Lagos is limited and if the road breaks down, the entire city is forced to retreat. The main reason for congestion is that the city's population has grown and road facilities have not been improved to accommodate the growing population. Traveling to Lagos during rush hour can increase the travel time by up to four hours.