It should come as no surprise that traffic is growing worse by the year in the United States. Across the country, average commuters spend 42 hours a year in traffic, according to a report by the Texas Transportation Institute. Last year, congestion cost the United States $305 billion, a $10 billion increase from 2016.
These traffic jams aren’t just a nuisance to drivers. When an accident happens on a gridlocked highway, emergency vehicles can lose precious time trying to navigate roads. This can lead to exponentially increased response times, putting lives at risk. The rideshare economy and driverless cars may help to reduce the U.S.’ traffic woes.
