Traffic Summary for Durban
Durban's transportation landscape in 2024 is dominated by car usage, with a significant 87.5% of commuters relying on personal vehicles. Despite the heavy reliance on cars, there is a notable percentage of the population that walks, reflecting a diverse range of commuting preferences.
Average Commute Times
- Bus - Bus commuters spend about 10 minutes waiting and 15 minutes on the bus, covering a distance of 5 km.
- Car - Car users experience a driving time of approximately 24.61 minutes, with minimal waiting time, covering 18.56 km.
- Walking - Walking commuters spend around 23 minutes on foot, with a total commute distance of 8.4 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourists flock to Durban's beaches. Winter months see a slight decrease in traffic as local residents travel less frequently.
Commuter Pain Points
High congestion during peak hours leads to increased travel times for car commuters. Limited public transport options make it challenging for non-car owners to commute efficiently.
Best Travel Times
Traveling outside of peak hours, particularly mid-morning or early afternoon, can significantly reduce commute times. Weekends generally offer smoother traffic flow compared to weekdays.
Event Impacts
Major events such as the Durban July horse race and international conferences can cause significant traffic disruptions. Planning ahead and using public transport during events can help avoid congestion.
Sustainability Efforts
Durban is investing in expanding its public transport network to reduce car dependency. Initiatives to promote cycling and walking are being introduced to lower the city's carbon footprint.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services are becoming increasingly popular, offering a flexible alternative to car ownership. These services help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, potentially easing congestion.
Traffic Rankings
Durban ranks 5th on the Traffic rankings in South Africa. The Traffic Index for South Africa combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in South Africa, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.
Traffic Data
Overall average travel
Average when primarily using Bus
Average when primarily using Car
Average when primarily using Walking
"Key Takeaways"
Durban's heavy reliance on cars contributes to high CO2 emissions and traffic inefficiencies.
Promoting alternative transportation methods could improve commute times and reduce environmental impact.
Key Indexes
EmissionsDurban's CO2 emissions index is notably high at 6027.63, indicating significant environmental impact from transportation.
Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on increasing public transport usage and promoting cycling.
TimeThe time index of 25.5 suggests moderate traffic delays, with potential for improvement through traffic management strategies.
Encouraging flexible work hours could help alleviate peak time congestion.
InefficiencyAn inefficiency index of 119.10 highlights areas for improvement in traffic flow and public transport efficiency.
Investments in infrastructure and smart traffic systems could reduce inefficiencies.