Paris jams will be world’s costliest
Capital’s traffic will be the most economically draining in the world by 2030, as the country stands to lose €22 a year
TRAFFIC jams in Paris will be the costliest in the world by 2030, according to a report on traffic and economics.
The report, produced by the traffic information service Inrix and the Centre for Economics and Business Research, found the cost of jams in the capital will rise 50% between now and 2030.
It will put the city in first place in the world for money lost to jams.
The report’s emphasis on economic loss puts developed nations at the top of the list, meaning that in terms of time spent sitting in cars, the city will not be the worst.
Other cities in the developing world such as Bangkok, Jakarta, Tehran, São Paulo and Delhi can vie for that title.
As a country, France will be placed third, behind the United States and the UK, on a par with Germany.
The total cost of jams to the country’s economy could be €22 billion a year, up 31% from today. The number of cars on the road is due to rise to 35 million from 30.8 million today, a rise of 14% despite the population only growing 7%.
CO2 emissions from vehicles are also due to rise 13%.
The effect will be felt more keenly in Paris, whose population is due to rise 5%. The cost of jams is due to rise 51%, compared to 45% for London and 49% for Los Angeles.
The report examines the direct cost of traffic jams, such as extra fuel and lost time, but also indirect costs, such as the resulting increase in prices for goods and cost to business overall.
The director of the European branch of INRIX, Matt Simmons, said: “If we don’t take action now, the saturation of key routes will have serious consequences for countries’ economies, businesses and citizens in the years to come.”
Photo:Flickr/Nelson Minar
