Traffic Predict
Is Bakersfield Traffic Getting Worse?
In 2026, weekday freeway congestion in Bakersfield was 21% better than in 2025 and 82% better than in 2022, measured as hours lost in stop-and-go traffic per 1,000 miles driven. Traffic volume per sensor was about the same as in 2025.
Year by year (weekdays)
| Year | Delay per 1,000 vehicle-miles | Change | Vehicles per sensor per day | Average speed | 5 pm speed | Sensors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0.11 h | – | 36,707 | 64 mph | 63 mph | 86 |
| 2023 | 0.04 h | -61% | 38,672 | 63 mph | 62 mph | 109 |
| 2024 | 0.02 h | -41% | 40,150 | 64 mph | 63 mph | 114 |
| 2025 | 0.02 h | +1% | 41,407 | 63 mph | 63 mph | 108 |
| 2026 | 0.02 h | -21% | 41,915 | 64 mph | 64 mph | 110 |
Month by month
Freeway by freeway, 2022 vs 2026
| Freeway | 2022 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-5 North | 0.05 h | 0.01 h | -68% |
| I-5 South | 0.00 h | 0.06 h | – |
| SR-58 East | 0.01 h | 0.01 h | – |
| SR-58 West | 0.05 h | 0.00 h | -93% |
| SR-99 North | 0.15 h | 0.02 h | -90% |
| SR-99 South | 0.15 h | 0.02 h | -84% |
| SR-178 East | 0.00 h | 0.00 h | – |
| SR-178 West | 0.00 h | 0.00 h | – |
Weekday delay per 1,000 vehicle-miles on each freeway direction within Bakersfield.
How this is measured
Every hour, road sensors report how many vehicles passed and how fast they went. For each sensor we multiply the vehicles by the length of freeway it covers to get vehicle-miles, and count the extra time spent below 35 mph as delay. Dividing delay by miles driven gives a congestion measure that doesn't change just because sensors are added or retired. Only weekdays with at least 20 hours of data are used. Data: Caltrans PeMS.