Rusningstrafik

Rusningstrafik is the Danish term for the period with the highest demand on roads and public transport, often referred to as rush hour. It typically occurs during the morning and late afternoon/evening as people commute to and from work and school. In urban areas the effect is most pronounced on main roads, expressways and central transit corridors, where speeds fall and travel times lengthen.

Causes include a concentration of trips in narrow time windows, limited road capacity, and a transport system with relatively high car use or insufficient public transit options to meet peak demand. The result is congestion, slower traffic, increased fuel consumption and emissions, higher accident risk, and greater travel-time variability for travellers and businesses.

Measurement and analysis rely on traffic counts, speed data, and travel-time indices gathered by transport authorities and municipalities. Peak periods vary by city and day type, but in many urban areas rusningstrafik dominates during standard commuting hours in the morning and late afternoon.

Management strategies focus on improving reliability and capacity without excessive new road construction. These include bus and transit priority, optimized signal timing, lane restrictions for high-occupancy and buses, park-and-ride schemes, cycling and walking improvements, and, where appropriate, pricing or demand-management policies. Public authorities such as the Danish Road Directorate collect and publish statistics to guide planning and policy aimed at reducing congestion and improving urban mobility.