A report from Katz Radio Group’s Sound Answers found that Americans are spending an increasing amount of time in their cars, particularly in traffic congestion, according to the latest Global Traffic Scorecard by transportation analytics firm INRIX. In 2024, the average U.S. driver spent 43 hours in traffic, a figure that more than doubles in major cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

The report revealed that 16 major U.S. cities experienced traffic levels above the national average. Notably, residents in Denver saw the largest increase in traffic time with a 19% rise, followed closely by Stamford at 18%, Nashville at 13%, and Philadelphia at 12%. Conversely, Boston commuters saw a decrease in congestion, spending nine fewer hours in traffic compared to the previous year, though they still faced the fourth highest congestion level nationally at 79 hours.

INRIX also noted a significant uptick in trips to downtown areas, key hubs for office, retail, and entertainment sectors. Over half of the major U.S. city centers analyzed reported increases in downtown traffic, with Houston leading the way at a 25% increase, followed by Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta all seeing double-digit growth.

The substantial time that Americans spend in their cars represents a prime opportunity for advertisers to reach a captive audience, particularly through AM/FM radio. According to Edison Research’s Share of Ear report, 90% of ad-supported listening time in vehicles is on AM/FM radio, emphasizing its dominance in audio advertising.

Radio’s peak drive time programming, which includes popular morning and afternoon shows, aligns well with high traffic periods, offering brands a chance to engage with listeners effectively. Additionally, partnerships with Traffic Networks like Katz’s TWIN+ allow for targeted advertising, providing contextual alignment with content related to traffic, weather, news, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle, further enhancing ad relevance and listener engagement.