Prague’s Overcrowded Streets: 940 Vehicles Per 1,000 Residents

A newly released report from Prague’s Technical Road Administration (TSK) sheds light on the car congestion situation in the Czech capital.

According to the data, there are now almost as many vehicles in Prague as there are residents. For every 1,000 people in the city, an astounding 940 vehicles are on the road, creating a significant traffic burden.

Sharp Rise in Vehicle Numbers Over the Decades

Vehicle numbers in Prague have risen dramatically. Compared to the 336,000 vehicles recorded in 1990, today’s statistics show more than 1.3 million registered vehicles in the city, of which 1.04 million are passenger cars. This increase represents nearly a 300% growth over 34 years.

To put things into perspective, in 2010 there were around 699,630 passenger cars in Prague, and by 2020, this number had surged to 925,716. Now, the data reveals that for every 1,000 inhabitants, 750 are passenger cars, resulting in an average of 1.3 people per car.

Passenger Cars Dominate Prague’s Roads

Passenger cars account for 91% of the total distance driven across the city. On an average weekday, they cover approximately 21.1 million vehicle kilometers. The total distance for all types of motor vehicles reached 23.2 million kilometers, showing the significant impact of private cars on Prague’s road network.

Barrandov Bridge: Prague’s Busiest Road

The city’s busiest road remains Barrandov Bridge, which sees an average of 142,000 vehicles daily. Close contenders include Jižní spojka and Strakonická street, with sections between Barrandovský most and Dobříšská recording daily traffic of around 125,000 vehicles.

Barrandovský most, known locally as “Barranďák,” also ranks as the city’s busiest bridge, followed by Hlávkův Bridge with 67,000 vehicles and Radotín Bridge with 62,000 vehicles passing each day. Tunnel routes experience similar traffic, with the Dejvice tunnel leading at 96,000 vehicles daily, followed by the Brusnice, Zlíchov, and Bubeneč tunnels.

Intersection Hotspots and Traffic Trends

The city’s most congested intersection is located at 5. května – Jižní spojka, where 214,000 vehicles pass daily. Additional busy intersections include Chodovská and Barrandovský most, which both see heavy traffic. The Barrandov Bridge and Strakonická intersection records nearly 191,000 vehicles daily.

Shift to Outer Roadways as City Center Traffic Decreases

Interestingly, while some areas are experiencing higher vehicle counts, traffic entering the central areas of Prague has declined by 3.4%, with an average of 250,000 vehicles entering daily in 2023.

In contrast, the outer city ring has seen a 4.1% increase in traffic, with 346,000 vehicles now passing along this route, most of which (302,000) are passenger cars.

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