Global Traffic Scorecard compiled by transportation analytics provider INRIX, the average driver in the United States spends 49 hours per year sitting in traffic. That’s a six-hour increase per commuter over the previous year, equating to $894 in lost productivity and/or leisure time while driving.

However, now AI-controlled tools can save up to 20-30% of time, easily connecting various transport methods to drivers, transit riders, and bicycle users.

Google Maps Dominates  

Google Maps is the most widely used all-purpose planner, with driving, transit, bicycling, scooter, and rideshare capabilities combined with real-life estimated arrival time and automatic rerouting. 

Recently, Google Maps partnered with DeepMind, an Alphabet AI research lab, to improve the accuracy of our traffic prediction capabilities. 

The ETA predictions already have a very high accuracy bar–in fact. 

“We see that our predictions have been consistently accurate for over 97% of trips”.

Waze Outsmarts Traffic  

The drivers are accustomed to recommending the use of Waze notifications about traffic jams or accidents using crowd-sourcing, since the application develops routes dynamically. 

Waze thrives on real-time user input. It constantly collects data from drivers who report traffic jams, construction, or accidents. That information is updated instantly, allowing Waze to redirect vehicles in seconds. 

The app’s algorithm values flexibility over predictability, so it may direct you through side streets or residential areas if those options save you a few minutes. 

The community-based aspect of the platform ensures that the platform is unmatched when it comes to dynamically optimizing the routes.  

Moovit AI Masters Transit  

The Moovit AI is a major disruption in the transportation sector as it uses predictive models to determine the least busy routes over buses, trains, and ferries. 

Covered in 3,200 cities, Moovit is also the best with complex networks, which shorten the average waiting time used by 800 million users.   

Citymapper Urban Edge  

Citymapper is the best in dense urban environments, with augmented-reality walking routes, payment systems at a single tap and subway and portable bikes disruption notifications. 

The platform alleviates a quarter of common delays effectively by integrating real time information in over a hundred cities by performance as illustrated by the 2025 benchmarks that still operate in 2026.

With now covering 400+ cities globally, adding 25 million people to our coverage in 2025. It has an intuitive design which puts a focus on speed and convenience.  

Offline Saviors  

OsmAnd and HERE WeGo have downloadable maps in places with intermittent signals, and used in places with no data connection, the app will automatically plot routes of cars, bicycles and public transport modes. 

The OSSE of OsmAnd allows it to be used offline, which is essential since most commuters have poor coverage when approaching some areas.  

Future Outlook

In the future, it is projected by industry experts that the adoption rate of AR overlays and electric-vehicle-optimized routing would be high as AR enhances ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)  by displaying alerts, lane markings, and hazard warnings more intuitively. 

Furthermore, augmented -reality holograms superimposing routes on car windshields and drone-supported final-mile links will make it possible to decrease the global commute-time by another quarter, amid the continued process of urbanization. 

Interesting Hack:

Activate several apps at once i.e. Waze to navigate by drive, Moovit to navigate by bus, and make sure that offline maps are loaded before you leave.