Before you get too riled up, yes, we know Brooklyn, New York is a distinct borough within New York City (and a city unto itself, according to some). But when it comes to traffic and

car insurance

rates, Manhattan tends to set the pace for everywhere else nearby.

So what can you do if you have no choice but to commute to the city center? Is there any hope of beating NYC gridlock? For starters, try following our guide to outsmarting the traffic in Brooklyn—complete with facts, stats, and strategies for navigating the biggest borough in the Big Apple.

MORE:

How to find cheap car insurance in Brooklyn

How bad is Brooklyn traffic?

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: traffic across

New York

—and Brooklyn, by extension—is horrendous. The

INRIX 2021 Global Traffic Scorecard

awards NYC the dubious honor of being the No. 1 most congested city in America and fifth overall in the world. Across New York, drivers lost an average of 102 hours in rush hour during their daily commute, costing them an extra $1,594 each.

In 2021, New York drivers spent 123 hours of their lives navigating rush hour traffic. 2020 was a golden year, with only 120 hours lost to gridlock—a vast improvement over 2019’s 143 hours. The COVID-19 pandemic made a difference of slightly less than one day for many commuters.

Year	Hours lost to congestion
2019	143 hours
2020	120 hours
2021	123 hours

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Why is Brooklyn traffic so bad?

Brooklyn’s traffic situation is improved by the fact that it’s a borough with fewer jobs and more residences than Manhattan. However, we’re assuming that, like most people, your commute involves heading toward the city center on a daily basis.

Overall, the blame for traffic congestion rests on the city and borough’s population sizes, infrastructures, and accident rates. Here’s a look at each one in more detail.

Population

New York is the most populous city in the United States, with 8.5 million residents who call it home. Of that number, around 2.6 million live in Brooklyn. These numbers alone are enough to put millions on the street in the morning and the evenings. Not only that, but New York City collectively has a higher rate of hopeful young professionals than normal.

You might not believe it, but it could be worse. Around 56% of New York workers take public transportation, while 10% walk—each one representing one less car on the road.

Major chokepoints

The iconic Brooklyn Bridge, unsurprisingly, bottlenecks a lot of traffic to and from the borough. In fact, since the city devoted a lane to bicycles,

the problem has only gotten worse

, dropping the average speed of traffic from 27.5 mph in 2019 to 19.5 mph in 2021.

Other traffic hotspots include the Belt and Shore Parkways, Interstate-27B, Linden Boulevard, Avenue P, and Prospect Expressway.

Accidents, construction, and other nuisances

Again, it’s sheer numbers that spell doom for Brooklyn’s congestion rate—millions of people on the road mean thousands of accidents, plenty of wear and tear to the concrete, and perhaps even some

road closures

in the historic and photogenic neighborhood of Greenpoint.

MORE: The best type of car insurance to get if you commute long distances

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How to navigate Brooklyn traffic

There’s only so much that hacks and traffic tips can do for you in Brooklyn, but for the sake of your blood pressure and car insurance premiums, Jerry has a few tips.

Often, the greatest contributor to punctuality lies in preparation. Schedule flights and doctor’s appointments for low-traffic periods, check estimated travel times using navigation apps, and try to keep your activities hyper-local.

Failing that, here are a few more strategies to try:

Avoid rush hour at all costs. Brooklyn sees the most traffic between 7:00 to 8:00 AM on weekday mornings and 4:00 to 5:00 PM on weekday evenings. In particular, Friday evenings have the highest amount of gridlock.

Use alternative means of transportation. The best and fastest trip you take across Brooklyn might not be one where you’re driving. New York has a wealth of

public transportation options

, with trains, buses, and ferries offering stops from Brooklyn to Manhattan. You may also want to consider biking or

walking the iconic bridge

for an inspiring sight, as well as a bit of fresh air.

Stay one step ahead of traffic. Local 106.7 Lite FM radio station gives listeners up-to-date tools for route planning, including street closures, traffic updates, and detour suggestions.

Avoid distractions. As boring as your commute may be, getting into an accident might be a bit too much excitement.

Distracted driving

accounts for a large percentage of accidents, but it's also completely preventable. Put down your smartphone (or snack, makeup, whatever) and reserve your attention for the road to keep rolling along smoothly.

MORE:

The 3 best apps for avoiding traffic jams

How to find great insurance rates in Brooklyn

You might have beaten New York traffic by moving to Brooklyn, but did you know you can beat high insurance premiums, too? The car insurance super app

Jerry

lets you find the best deals and coverage all in one place—your smartphone!

Jerry gathers quotes from over 50 name-brand insurance companies like Travelers, Progressive, AAA, and Safeco. All you have to do is answer a few questions during signup and then make your choice.

Jerry will handle paperwork, filing, document management, and even help with your old policy cancellation—there’s nothing left for you to do but enjoy $887 of savings per year on average.

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FAQs

Is Brooklyn hard to drive in?

Brooklyn enjoys a better flow of traffic than New York City proper, but commuters will still find it hard to break in and out of Manhattan in a timely manner.

What is the best time to drive through Brooklyn?

Avoid the streets between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM and between 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM and you’ll miss the worst of the traffic.

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