In 1982, it is estimated that 0.8 billion gallons of fuel were wasted in the United States due to traffic congestion, and that rose to a peak of 3.6 billion gallons of wasted fuel in 2019.
September 9, 2024
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In 1982, it is estimated that 0.8 billion gallons of fuel were wasted in the United States due to traffic congestion, and that rose to a peak of 3.6 billion gallons of wasted fuel in 2019. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a precipitous drop in congestion and wasted fuel, reaching a low of 1.8 billion gallons, a level not seen since 1995. However, since 2020, congestion has again been on the rise, resulting in 3.3 billion gallons of wasted fuel in 2022.
Note: Fuel wasted is the amount beyond what would have been expected at free-flow speeds.
Source: Texas A&M Transportation Institute, 2023 Urban Mobility Report, June 2024.