Istanbul commuters waste about 120 hours a year as traffic costs reach $60 billion
A new report finds Istanbul residents lose roughly 120 hours per person annually to congestion, contributing to up to $60 billion in nationwide economic losses.
Researchers from the City Thought Center, led by Sadettin Ökten, released the Türkiye Traffic Situation Report after field work with about 3,000 people in Istanbul, Ankara, Eskişehir and Malatya. The study identified driver inattention, deliberate violations and lack of traffic awareness as the top issues, while nearly half of participants also cited limited road capacity and parking shortages. Fatih Gündoğan emphasized that vehicle registrations have jumped from roughly 20 million to 33 million over ten years, and warned that matching Europe’s vehicle density could double Istanbul’s cars.
Abdullah Demir calculated that traffic congestion costs Turkey between $50 billion and $60 billion each year, with Istanbul alone bearing around $10 billion in lost time, fuel and health impacts. The report also highlighted the heightened risks faced by motorcycle couriers, who often feel pressured to speed for bonuses. Experts called for stronger enforcement, clearer signage and better traffic education starting in schools and homes.
