Brisbane has landed among Australia’s most congested cities, ranking fourth in a new study from Novated Lease Australia. The report, using data from TomTom, shows that Brisbane residents spend around 68 hours a year stuck in traffic, out of an average 171 hours on the road. That’s a lot of time sitting behind the wheel and not getting anywhere fast.
While Melbourne and Sydney might be worse off, Brisbane’s traffic troubles are catching up. And it’s not just about time – it’s hitting wallets too. The study reveals that Brisbane drivers spend an extra $158 per year on fuel, just from sitting in traffic. That puts us third in the country for congestion-related fuel costs, right behind Melbourne ($205) and Sydney ($173).
How Does Brisbane Stack Up?
Compared to Australia’s other major cities, Brisbane is definitely feeling the squeeze. Here’s a quick look at how we compare:
- Melbourne: 92 hours stuck in traffic, 205 hours total travel time
- Sydney: 83 hours stuck in traffic, 203 hours total travel time
- Adelaide: 72 hours stuck in traffic, 182 hours total travel time
- Brisbane: 68 hours stuck in traffic, 171 hours total travel time
- Perth: 60 hours stuck in traffic, 150 hours total travel time
With Brisbane growing fast and gearing up to host the 2032 Olympics, there’s a big push to improve transport infrastructure and reduce traffic. It’s clear something needs to be done to help ease the congestion that’s frustrating drivers and burning a hole in their pockets.
The 50 cent fare initiative by the Queensland Government is helping. Initial feedback suggests the initiative is attracting more passengers, especially during peak hours and weekends. By making public transport cheaper, the initiative is reducing some financial barriers, encouraging people to leave their cars at home, which directly tackles congestion. Time will tell how the Cross River Rail project and Brisbane Metro bus service helps with getting people out of cars and into public transport.
Whether it’s better public transport, smarter roads, or major infrastructure projects, Brisbane will need to find ways to keep the city moving as it expands. For now, though, it looks like we’ll all be spending a bit more time and money stuck behind the wheel.
