Low emission zones (LEZ) have become a key feature in modern cities. They are a useful tool in regulating the flow of traffic into cities to ensure that drivers of old polluting vehicles are disincentivized from driving into city centers by levying heavy fines or charges. Newer, cleaner forms of transport like electric vehicles are allowed freely in and out of low emission zones.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot. We’ve been forced to alter and adapt the ways we approach work, socializing, shopping and transport. This is reflected in TomTom’s Traffic Index, which, for 11 years, has tracked congestion in our cities. With the pandemic throwing most things into disarray, the company’s Traffic Index goes beyond just monitoring congestion. It is now serving as a barometer for economic recovery and social change in our cities.

It’s that time of year again, TomTom Traffic Index is ready. For the past 11 years, the geolocation technology company has been compiling data and crunching the numbers from more than 600 million devices to understand how traffic trends in the world’s major cities have been changing. This year for the first time, TomTom is also providing insight into the impact congestion has on the environment.

TomTom’s 2021 Traffic Index, released this month, shines a light on the world’s most congested cities. Most interesting for this edition, is that we get to see how reopening the world from COVID-19 lockdowns affected congestion in our cities. Are we returning to normal? Or have our travel patterns changed forever?