Blowout in city travel times
Perth's peak-hour congestion adds 33 minutes an hour to normal travel times, with the worst snarls on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday afternoons, a study reveals.
The TomTom Congestion Index analysed traffic volumes in nine Australasian cities and found congestion levels in Perth were second only to Sydney.
But the rate congestion increased last year was faster in Perth than any other city looked at. The TomTom index has been comparing congestion levels around the world since 2007.
But the latest data is the first to include the Asia-Pacific region - with Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington added to the list of 161 evaluated cities.
Based on the journeys of vehicles fitted with a TomTom navigational device, the index compares peak and non-peak travel times. Moscow was again found to be the world's most congested city, with a rating of 66. It was followed by Istanbul (55) and Warsaw (42).
Perth rated 30.
Sydney's rating of 33 was the worst in Australia and New Zealand, with congestion adding 40 minutes an hour to peak-hour travel times. Canberra was the least congested city.
Overall, the index found Australian motorists spend 92 hours a year caught in congested peak-hour traffic. In Perth, the index found no difference in congestion levels in the morning and afternoon. But congestion was relatively low on highways and much worse on non-highways.
Contrary to Australian cities, New Zealand cities all recorded improved congestion levels.
Earlier this year, an RAC survey of its members found congestion was beginning to affect family life, stress levels and the productivity of Perth motorists. Almost half the 700 motorists surveyed now got up earlier to avoid morning congestion and one in three arrived home later from work.
An overwhelming seven out of eight said congestion and road delays were worse than a year ago.
RAC head of advocacy Matt Brown said growing congestion was forcing Perth motorists to change their daily routines.
They were now planning their lives around traffic and congestion.
