ADAC Jam Balance 2017: That's how long you've been stuck in a traffic jam

L According to the ADAC study, an average of every day in Germany Traffic jams of almost 4,000 kilometers. In 2017, road users were stuck in traffic jams for around 457,000 hours, i.e. more than 52 years - an increase of nine percent compared to the previous year. According to the automobile club, the reason for the increase are many construction sites and increased vehicle mileage: According to the Federal Highway Research Institute, this increased by 1.3 percent compared to 2016.

North Rhine-Westphalia leads the way in traffic jams

Two thirds of all traffic jams occurred - as in previous years - in the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia (35 percent), Bavaria (18 percent) and Baden-Württemberg (11 percent). In North Rhine-Westphalia, the total number of traffic jams rose by 17 percent to around 455,000. In Bavaria, however, there was a slight decrease (four percent) to around 283,000 kilometers. The statistics for all federal states can be found in our photo show.

Most of the traffic jams per kilometer of motorway were on the A3 (208 kilometers), the A5 (180 kilometers) and the A8 (177 kilometers).

Record months of congestion according to ADAC: June and September

The longest sheet metal avalanches formed in June (147,306 kilometers) and September (143,485 kilometers). By contrast, there were comparatively few traffic jams in January, February and December - at this time of year many construction sites are completed or work on them is interrupted.

According to the study, the most congested day of the week is Thursday (5,365 kilometers), before Friday (5,296 kilometers) and Wednesday (5,254 kilometers). There were significantly fewer traffic jams on Saturdays (1,671 kilometers) and Sundays (1,582 kilometers).

The record day in 2017 was May 24 (Wednesday): on the day before Ascension Day, the traffic jams in Germany added up to good 10,000 kilometers.

Review: 1.1 million traffic jams in 2015

A brief review: In 2016, the ADAC counted around 694,000 traffic jams. In 2015 there were 568,000. The length of traffic jams added up to 1,378,000 kilometers nationwide in 2016; in 2015 it was 1,130,000 kilometers.

In a survey by the traffic service provider Inrix in 2016, Munich came first among the traffic jam cities: There the drivers spent an average of 49 hours in traffic. The cities of Heilbronn, Cologne and Stuttgart shared second place with 46 hours each. This was followed by Hamburg (41 hours), Berlin (40 hours) and Frankfurt (39 hours)

Like a traffic jamarises

ADAC

Abrupt lane changes or braking maneuvers are classic triggers for traffic jams.

A traffic jam is not caused by high traffic alone. As a rule, the wrong behavior of drivers is the main contributor. Five reasons that can lead to sheet metal avalanches:

• 'Hopping into gaps': In order to get into the supposedly faster lane, drivers like to change lanes. However, this does not usually save any time. On the contrary: The change forces others to brake, and the flow of traffic comes to a standstill.
• Jostling: If you drive too close to the vehicle in front, you have to brake sharply more often. A chain reaction of braking maneuvers follows, which in the end may end in a traffic jam.
• The zipper pinches: According to the road traffic regulations, the threading should only take place shortly before the narrowing begins. Many changes, however, too early - that also hinders the flow of traffic.
• Gawking: An accident - and it jams. However, this is not always because the road is blocked. On the autobahn, there is often a jam in the opposite lane. The reason: Slow-moving gawkers.
• Inattention: If you are not careful, you have to brake more often - that too leads to a braking chain reaction and then possibly to a traffic jam.