Seattle-area drivers lost 68 hours to traffic delays this year. Here's how that ranks nationally. [View all]

Traffic gridlock is exacting a hefty toll on Seattle-area commuters as returning office workers and aging infrastructure worsen congestion.

Inching along slow-moving roads and highways, the average Seattle driver experienced 68 hours of delays this year, according to the annual Inrix Global Traffic Scorecard released Monday.

Seattle drivers lost the equivalent of eight and a half workdays sitting behind their wheels, making the region the 10th-most congested urban area in the U.S. and 22nd worldwide, ranking between Izmir, Turkey, and Melbourne, Australia.

Average traffic delays during peak commute times increased 8% from last year. Traffic snarls are up by 43 hours compared with 2020, amid the Covid pandemic.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2025/12/01/traffic-congestion-inrix-study.html