In 2024, traffic congestion on German highways saw a total duration of 448,000 hours, marking an increase of 21,000 hours from the previous year, despite a decrease in total traffic jam length to 859,000 kilometers.
The overall congestion duration remains below pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019, even with a slight change in the methodology used for counting.
The ADAC reported a total of 516,000 traffic jams on German highways in 2024, which is an increase of 12,000 compared to 2023.
This rise in traffic jams is attributed to a 4% increase in traffic volume and a significant number of road construction sites, leading to calls for modernization of traffic infrastructure.
The introduction of the Germany Ticket, which has gained 13 million users primarily among commuters, has helped alleviate some road traffic during peak times.
North Rhine-Westphalia recorded the highest number of traffic jam incidents, accounting for 31.5% of the total, followed by Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
When analyzing congestion per highway kilometer, urban states like Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen faced the most severe traffic, with Berlin experiencing 202 hours of traffic jams per kilometer.
Midweek days, particularly Wednesdays and Thursdays, are the most congested, with peak commuting times occurring between 6-9 AM and 2-6 PM.
The worst traffic congestion days are often linked to travel before holidays, with May 17, 2024, being the most congested day, accumulating about 2,500 hours of traffic jams.
The longest traffic jam recorded in 2024 occurred on January 18 on the A61, where severe winter weather caused congestion of 77 kilometers in one direction.
ADAC defines a traffic jam as a situation where traffic flow drops below 20 kilometers per hour for a sustained period, with data collected from truck fleets and smartphone apps.
Looking ahead, significant infrastructure challenges loom, including the need to replace over 4,000 highway bridges, which could exacerbate existing congestion issues.
