TomTom Traffic Index: Why our approach can't be matched

A truly global perspective on traffic management. Across the world, effective traffic management is a critical element in logistics and urban planning. How effective it is though, depends on the data. TomTom’s traffic data is known for its breadth and resolution, and its yearly Traffic Index is the perfect display of what sets it apart.

TomTom’s Traffic Index sets itself apart by offering actionable insights with a truly global comparison, covering 500 cities across 62 countries. Using a unique methodology that focuses on yearly, city-wide up-to-the-minute traffic conditions rather than individual commuter journeys, TomTom provides a comprehensive standardized analysis of travel times over a fixed 10-kilometer distance. This approach delivers invaluable insights for those managing and planning transportation systems in cities around the globe.

A practical measure for urban traffic

Unlike studies that prioritize commuting patterns or time lost on pre-defined trips, TomTom concentrates solely on city traffic conditions. TomTom’s standardized 10-kilometer travel time comparison provides a clear, apples-to-apples measure of congestion across cities that’s representative of the real-world traffic conditions, enabling decision-makers to focus on traffic bottlenecks and flow within urban environments.

This approach aligns closely with the needs of traffic authorities, fleet managers and urban planners, who often have limited control over factors like residential and workplace locations. Instead, TomTom’s data empowers them to address the traffic issues they can influence — improving road networks, reducing congestion and ensuring smoother traffic flows.

The leading comprehensive review of a year of traffic

TomTom’s Traffic Index goes beyond peak-hour analysis and one-off instances The Traffic Index provides a full-spectrum view of urban mobility by evaluating congestion levels throughout the entire year, including weekends, holidays and all types of trips.

As detailed and insightful as the Traffic Index is, the data behind it is capable of much more. TomTom’s traffic report is built on the company’s market leading traffic data. Data is gathered from up to one in three vehicles on the road, to build speed profiles, travel time information, understand peak congestion and delays, predict trends and gain insight into how traffic is moving across a city.

For ride-hailing companies and fleet operators, this data offers valuable insights into real world traffic patterns, enabling smarter route optimization and service planning. Governments and city planners also rely on this holistic data to assess the impact of policy changes (like speed limit reductions and congestion charges) or infrastructure projects over time.

Real-time data for immediate solutions

Thanks to this data, TomTom also offers live congestion reporting, giving governments, fleets and businesses the tools to respond quickly to sudden traffic issues. From rerouting vehicles to addressing emergency road closures, real-time data ensures that decisions are timely and effective.

Exceptional data accuracy

TomTom’s traffic data leverages one of the largest global networks of connected devices, with data contributions from up to one in three vehicles in some cities. This exceptional data penetration ensures highly accurate measurements, offering unmatched reliability to all stakeholders.

By collecting anonymized, real-time data from GPS-enabled devices, TomTom provides detailed traffic insights across cities of all sizes. From pinpointing congestion hotspots to identifying underused roads, the accuracy and granularity of our data enable better-informed decisions across sectors.

A city-wide view for maximum impact

While many similar traffic analyses limit their scope to commuting routes, TomTom takes a city-wide approach. This methodology captures traffic conditions across all urban areas, highlighting variations in congestion between neighborhoods, different times of day and days of the week.

For logistics companies, this level of detail helps optimize delivery routes. Ride-hailing services can predict and respond to localized congestion. City planners can assess traffic flow throughout the city, ensuring infrastructure improvements benefit the entire urban area.

Empowering informed mobility

The Traffic Index demonstrates the power of TomTom’s traffic and location data for those shaping the future of transportation. By focusing on city-wide traffic conditions, offering comprehensive, year-round data, and delivering unparalleled accuracy, TomTom provides the insights needed to drive meaningful change.

Achieve smarter, more efficient mobility solutions with the most trusted traffic data today and journey Smarter. Because when cities move forward, our world moves forward.