Bukit Timah named Singapore suburb with worst peak-hour commute

Overtaking relatively improved Clementi and Tampines.

A newly released study from TomTom, an in-car location and navigation products and services provider, revealed travel times to and from 15 Singapore suburbs during peak-hour traffic, and naming Bukit Timah the worst of those surveyed.

Bukit Timah topped the charts as the overall worst suburb for peak-hour commute, replacing Clementi and Tampines, which took "line honors" for both morning and afternoon peak-hour commutes, in TomTom's first study two years ago.

In a comparison of peak and off-peak travel times, Bukit Timah recorded a 111 per cent increase in travel times in the mornings and a 97 per cent increase in evening travel times, based on percentage difference in travel time 7-9am compared with 1-5am.

In the latest study this year, Clementi featured as the second worst suburb for the morning commute, with a 97 per cent increase in travel time during peak-hours compared to free flow traffic, extending its position as one of Singapore's most congested suburbs during peak-hour since the pioneer study was published in 2010. It was ranked as the third worst suburb for evening commute with a 93 per cent increase in travel time.

Two years ago, Tampines ranked the worst for morning commute, but was improved this year to rank 10th worst for morning commute. The eastern suburb, previously ranked the best for evening commute, has now been relegated to the sixth worst for evening commute in the latest study. The drop in ranking for evening commute could be due to a variety of factors such as changing driving patterns and road developments in the area.

The top three areas least affected by morning peak-hour traffic are Changi Airport, Pasir Ris and Sengkang, where travel times to the city increased 31, 44 and 45 per cent respectively during rush hours compared to times when traffic was free-flowing. These three suburbs were also least affected by evening commute, although the percentage increase is higher than that in the morning.

Travel times from the suburbs were measures to and from a central point: Raffles Place, Singapore. Travel times in the two busiest periods, between 7-9am and 5-7pm, were compared with the quietest period from 1-5am.

Data were gathered using TomTom's database of real travel times, said to be the largest in the world, and powered by its unique IQ Routes technology which analyses this data and calculates the optimal route to drivers and the most accurate travel times. IQ Routes is available on all TomTom GPS products, mobile applications and maps in Singapore.