Pre-pandemic traffic is returning, but looks a lot different

According to CCC’s report, traffic is now building later in the day than it did in the past, and is rebounding faster during non-peak hours. (Credit: Jevanto Productions – stock.adobe.com)

Traffic congestion is bouncing back from COVID lockdowns, but it looks a lot different than it did pre-pandemic, says the recently released CCC 2023 Crash Course report. Vehicle miles traveled metro-wide across the 10 most populated cities in the U.S. are 4% above pre-pandemic levels, but the time of day in which traffic congestion and crashes are occurring has changed — and so have auto claims.

According to CCC’s report, traffic is building later in the day than before the pandemic and is rebounding faster during non-peak hours. This change in driving patterns has been greatly influenced by the number of people who have transitioned to remote work and no participate in the typical rush hour commute. Naturally, a shift in the times when people are on the road has led to a shift in when vehicle crashes are happening. The report states “as traffic volume builds in non-peak hours, there has been a decrease in the overall share of motor vehicle crashes that occur during typical morning and afternoon rush hours.”