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Traffic Index Ranks Denver In Congested Cities List

DENVER (CBS4) - A new study from TomTom (remember when that was the original GPS?) shows Denver as one of the worst cities in the country for traffic.

The 2014 Traffic Index considered over 200 cities worldwide and gathered data from local roads and main highways.

Denver is considered the 22nd most congested city in the U.S. It ranks as 103 on the worldwide list of cities, right in the middle of horrible and acceptable traffic.

The study shows Denver area drivers that have a 30-minute commute average an extra 70 hours per year -- that's nearly 3 full days spent in traffic!

The congestion in Denver increased 3% from the previous year. The worst of the week's commutes was found to be Wednesday morning and Thursday evening. And the most congested day of 2014 in Denver was Nov. 12.

If it makes you feel better, there are far more congested cities in other countries. Brazil alone has three cities on the top ten most congested list.

The number one most congested city in the world is Istanbul, with a 58% increase in travel time at any given moment, as compared to free flowing, uncongested traffic. Mexico City is right behind it, and China's mega-city Chongqing ranks as the 12th worst congested in the world.

And the sayings are true about L.A. -- it ranked 10th in the world for worst traffic congestion, and number one in the U.S. The city's evening peak hours of travel create an 89% increase in drive time.

Another California city, San Francisco, takes the No. 2 spot. Honolulu is America's third most congested city, followed by New York City and Seattle.

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