In most respects, having Manila in the same group as London, Milan, and Sapporo could be seen as a good thing. Except when it comes to traffic that is, as all four cities are considered just some of the world’s worst places to be driving in.
TomTom's Traffic Index Ranking 2022 shows just how bad Manila traffic was in the past year
According to the Traffic Index Ranking for 2022 conducted by Dutch navigation technology company TomTom, it took an average of 27 minutes just to drive 10 kilometers within the Philippines’ capital city. This was reportedly an increase of 40 seconds compared to 2021.
Filipinos spent an average time of 241 hours in traffic in 2022, with typical rush hour speeds of 20 kilometers per hour. The study singled out October 28, 2022 as the worst day to travel through Manila, with a 10-kilometer drive taking 36 minutes and 30 seconds.
Travelers took an additional 40 seconds to cover 10 kilometers this year compared to 2021 [Image: TomTom.com]
Meanwhile, driving 20 kilometers on a one-way commute in the city center for one year took 483 hours on average, 200 of which was lost to traffic congestion. In peripheral areas, the travel time was slightly lower at 449 hours.
Using the same distance as a benchmark, the study said that Friday between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. had the worst rush hour traffic as it would take up to 73 minutes just to travel that far. Average speeds for this period were at 16 kilometers per hour, consuming almost two liters of fuel.
On weekdays, morning rush hour fared a little better than evening rush hour. Going to work or school meant spending an extra 16 minutes for every 15-kilometer trip, as opposed to going home that required an additional 24 minutes for the same distance. These amounted to an additional 150 hours spent in traffic for 2022, equivalent to six days and six hours.
Morning commutes were considered shorter compared to evening rush hour [Image: TomTom.com]
What might be interesting is that annual gasoline vehicle emissions recorded were actually higher than those of diesel models, challenging a long-held notion among consumers. A brief 10-kilometer drive in the middle of the city using gasoline resulted in 1,047 kilograms of CO2 emissions, compared to 997 kilograms for diesel.
Here's how Manila fared with the rest of the world’s cities that have the worst traffic:
| Ranking | City | Average travel time per 10 km | Change from 2021 | Time in rush hour per year | Average speed in rush hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | London (United Kingdom) | 36 mins. 20 secs. | + 1 min. 50 secs. | 325 hours | 14 km/h |
| 2 | Bengaluru (India) | 29 mins. 10 secs. | + 40 secs. | 260 hours | 18 km/h |
| 3 | Dublin (Ireland) | 28 mins. 30 secs. | + 1 min. 40 secs. | 277 hours | 17 km/h |
| 4 | Sapporo (Japan) | 27 mins. 40 secs. | + 50 secs. | 240 hours | 19 km/h |
| 5 | Milan (Italy) | 27 mins. 30 secs. | - 20 secs. | 259 hours | 18 km/h |
| 6 | Pune (India) | 27 mins. 20 secs. | + 1 min. 10 secs. | 249 hours | 19 km/h |
| 7 | Bucharest (Romania) | 27 mins. 20 secs. | - 10 secs. | 277 hours | 17 km/h |
| 8 | Lima (Peru) | 27 mins. 10 secs. | + 2 mins. | 254 hours | 18 km/h |
| 9 | Manila (Philippines) | 27 mins. | + 40 secs. | 241 hours | 20 km/h |
| 10 | Bogota (Colombia) | 26 mins. 20 secs. | + 50 secs. | 249 hours | 19 km/h |
The study recommends adjustments in travel habits to save both time and emissions. For instance, those who would typically commute 20 kilometers to work in Manila can save 101 hours on the road and reduce 419 kilograms of CO2 by working from home once week. These rise to 296 hours and 1234 kilograms of CO2 when stretched to three days.
Learn more about our traffic situation with Philkotse.com.