Hat Yai, a city in Thailand, was ranked as the worst for traffic in the country, even surpassing the capital, Bangkok, which many might have expected to claim the title. But what about Malaysia?
The 14th edition of the TomTom Traffic Index, published by Dutch location technology company TomTom, sheds light on traffic trends in Malaysia for 2024. The results may not be what you expect.
Photo via Kosmo! Digital
The study covers 500 cities across 62 countries, ranking them based on average travel time and congestion levels. According to the latest report, George Town, the capital of Penang, has the worst traffic in Malaysia. With an average travel time of 26 minutes and 36 seconds per 10km, it outpaces other cities in the country.
Moreover, George Town has the highest congestion level of any Malaysian city, recorded at 40%. On the global scale, it ranks 73rd, making it the highest-ranked Malaysian city.
Surprisingly, Kota Bharu, the capital of Kelantan, ranks second for the worst traffic in Malaysia. It holds the 139th spot globally, with an average travel time of 22 minutes and 30 seconds per 10km.
The top 5 cities in Malaysia with the worst traffic, based on average travel time per 10 km, are as follows:
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George Town – 26 minutes 36 seconds
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Kota Bharu – 22 minutes 30 seconds
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Ipoh – 21 minutes 48 seconds
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Johor Bahru – 19 minutes 58 seconds
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Kuala Lumpur – 17 minutes 26 seconds
TomTom explains that the variation in travel times across cities is due to a mix of static and dynamic factors. Static factors include the fixed elements of a city's infrastructure, such as road networks and city planning, while dynamic factors refer to changing conditions like seasonal traffic surges and daily fluctuations in traffic flow.
These findings offer a fresh perspective on the traffic situation in Malaysia, challenging some common assumptions about the worst-hit cities.
What do you guys think? Is this accurate?
