A new national study has revealed an inconvenient truth for Adelaide drivers. Fresh analysis from car-insurance comparison experts iSelect shows that commuters driving through the CBD during peak times are travelling at an average speed of just 21 kilometres per hour, meaning that during rush hour, our city centre is now officially the slowest in Australia. For city workers, that means an extra 22 minutes and 10 seconds lost every single day, turning what should be a simple 33-minute round trip into a frustrating 55-minute journey.
The study looked at and analysed ABS and Census data to uncover how many Australians drive to work and how long their daily commute really takes. It then compared peak-hour traffic with optimal conditions across eleven major cities, revealing that Adelaide experiences the biggest slowdown of them all. Beating Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, Adelaide topped the list for the most significant increase in travel time once the morning and evening peaks hit.
Across the nation, Australians lose around 15 minutes each day to congestion, but Adelaide drivers are well above that average. What makes the result even more interesting is that Adelaide also has one of the shortest commute distances in the country, at just 18.82 kilometres. Despite that shorter trip, we still rank third in the country for the most time lost in traffic annually, sitting just behind Melbourne and Sydney. Adelaide’s full-time workers spend about 26 minutes per day in traffic, adding up to more than three days each year that could otherwise be spent at home, at the gym, or just enjoying life.
Sydney tops the national list, with workers losing the equivalent of four full days in traffic each year, followed closely by Melbourne, with just under four. Adelaide sits in third place with three days, five hours and 50 minutes lost annually.
The financial sting is just as grim. The research calculated the cost of congestion by looking at fuel use and hourly earnings, revealing that Adelaide drivers are losing an average of $3,377.44 each year simply by sitting in traffic. That includes more than $150 in additional fuel and over $3,200 in lost time. With many workplaces now offering hybrid or remote arrangements, these hours spent in the car represent unpaid work time that employers ultimately benefit from, while workers face both the financial and emotional toll of peak-hour delays.
It’s clear to see that as the city continues to grow, and more workers return to the office, congestion is becoming an increasingly costly part of daily life. The humble commute is a significant part of the workday once again, and for many locals, the journey is costing far more than just time.
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