Commuters in Dallas spent 40 hours in traffic in 2020. Not only that, Dallas’s traffic conditions lead to high rates of fatalities and collisions, making it a rather dangerous place to be commuting.

Dallas, Texas is one of the largest cities in the US—it’s actually populous enough to support seven professional sports teams! But with that many people living in one area, Dallas is also notorious for heavy traffic. Is it really as bad as its reputation? We’re here to break it down for you.

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How bad is Dallas traffic?

Commuters in Texas spent 40 hours—and wasted $848—on average sitting in traffic in 2020on average, according to Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s

2021 Urban Mobility Report

As to be expected, these hours are down from earlier years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But numbers are going back up, and traffic is set to steadily increase in future years.

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Dallas to Colorado road trip

Why is Dallas traffic so bad?

So what’s the deal with Dallas traffic, anyway? There are a lot of moving factors that lead to a city having bad congestion, so let’s take a look at why we see heavy traffic in Dallas.

Population size

Population in Dallas has increased in recent years (120,000 in 2020 alone), which most likely has a large impact on traffic congestion in Dallas. Dallas’s new status as a dominating tech city in the U.S. has lots of people moving in from the coasts and the midwest for work—and filling the roads with their commutes.

Major chokepoints

I-45 at I-30 and US 75 at I-635 are major traffic hotspots in Dallas, and they’re good spots to avoid if you want to steer away from problem zones.

Driving habits

Dallas experiences the worst traffic during rush hours—7 am to 9:30 am in the mornings and 3 pm to 6:30 pm in the evenings. You’ll find rush hour traffic in most areas of the city—from major highways and thoroughfares to major residential and employment areas.

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

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How to navigate Dallas traffic like a pro

Dallas is notable for its traffic congestion and its dangerous traffic conditions. In the Dallas area, you are 46% more likely to get into an accident than elsewhere in the state—and Dallas has 14 fatalities per 100,000 residents each year due to car collisions.

Not only is a collision dangerous, but it can also cause your

car insurance rates to shoot up.

Learning how to drive in Dallas’s traffic conditions can keep you safe and help you maintain a lower insurance rate. Here are some ways to master the art of driving in Dallas:

Avoid high-traffic times. If you can, stay off the roads during rush hour. This means trying to keep your driving from 10 am to 2:30 pm and after 7 pm.

Use side streets to avoid traffic-heavy highways. Many of Dallas’s accidents occur in high-traffic areas during rush hour.

Use an app to see real-time traffic conditions. Apps like Google Maps and Waze can help you find the best route for your daily commute—and they will take into account things like accidents and road closures to get you to your destination as quickly as possible.

Stay focused. It can be hard when you’re in bumper-to-bumper traffic, but committing to

driving undistracted

is a great way to keep yourself from getting into a collision. Avoid playing loud music, stay off your phone, and practice safe driving habits (like early braking) to make sure you stay accident-free on your commutes.

MORE:

The 3 best apps for avoiding traffic jams

Prepare for Dallas traffic by updating your car insurance

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FAQs

Is Dallas safe to drive in?

Dallas has one of the highest fatality rates for car collisions in the country—and a high rate of car collisions in general. Many of Dallas’s collisions are due to drunk driving. As far as cities go, it’s not the safest place to drive—so make sure you practice defensive driving habits to keep yourself accident-free.

What is the best time to drive through Dallas?

The best times to drive in Dallas are 10 am to 2:30 pm and after 7 pm.

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