TomTom has released the 14th edition of its Traffic Index, providing an in-depth analysis of urban mobility trends in 500 cities across 62 countries. Based on data from 737 billion kilometres driven in 2024, the report reveals notable traffic patterns, average speeds, and congestion levels, offering a comprehensive overview of road conditions worldwide.
This year’s findings highlight significant challenges faced by European cities, which are grappling with declining average speeds, persistent congestion, and the impact of both static and dynamic traffic factors.
London is ranked as the slowest city in Europe, with an average driving speed of just 18 km/h. Completing a 10-kilometre journey in the city typically took over 33 minutes in 2024. Globally, London ranks fifth among the slowest cities, trailing urban centres like Barranquilla in Colombia, which recorded an average speed of just 16.6 km/h.
However, London’s congestion ranking is relatively low at 150th globally, indicating that delays stem more from infrastructure constraints than dynamic factors like peak-hour surges or weather.
Dublin ranks second in Europe for slow traffic and congestion, with drivers losing an average of 155 hours annually in rush-hour traffic. This equates to nearly a week of lost time for a commuter making a daily 10-kilometre journey.
European cities in the global spotlight
European cities feature prominently in the global rankings for both congestion and average speeds. Below is the complete ranking of the top 20 European cities for slow traffic and congestion, according to the TomTom Traffic Index 2025:
- London, UK – Average speed: 18 km/h, globally 5th slowest.
- Dublin, Ireland – 155 hours lost annually.
- Barcelona, Spain
- Bucharest, Romania
- Bordeaux, France
- Brussels, Belgium
- Rome, Italy
- Athens, Greece
- Vienna, Austria
- Wroclaw, Poland
- Paris, France
- Helsinki, Finland
- Berlin, Germany
- Turin, Italy
- Florence, Italy
- Edinburgh, UK
- Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Marseille, France
- Milan, Italy
- Poznan, Poland
The report highlights that in 2024, 76% of the 500 cities studied experienced a decrease in average speeds compared to the previous year. Despite these delays, free-flowing speeds—achieved under optimal traffic conditions—remained stable or even improved slightly, suggesting that congestion and dynamic factors are the primary drivers of slower average speeds.
TomTom identifies static factors such as road network design, speed limits, and pedestrian zones as key contributors to traffic conditions. These are compounded by dynamic factors like rush-hour congestion, seasonal tourism, and weather events such as snow or heavy rain, which can further reduce mobility.
“The combination of population and economic growth is putting significant pressure on our transportation networks. Outdated infrastructure and inefficient road planning fail to keep pace with demand. Additionally, the rise of e-commerce has increased freight traffic, further complicating the situation. Without a shift towards regulation and sustainable transportation options, we risk worsening congestion that impacts everyone in our cities,” added Ralf-Peter Schäfer, Vice President of Traffic at TomTom.