Living in the Queens area of New York, the roads turn into almost parking lots around 8 AM during rush hour and from 3 PM to 7 PM during the evening commute. Queens is a busy place with many commuters heading to Manhattan and vehicles traveling to and from airports like JFK and LaGuardia. This is why it is common to see cars lined up not only on highways but also on local roads.

The first reason for the severe traffic congestion in this area is the concentration of commuters during peak hours.

As vehicles heading to Manhattan or Brooklyn converge, major highways like the LIE, Van Wyck Expressway, and Grand Central Parkway, as well as surrounding areas, become congested. The entrances to the highways are prone to bottlenecks, causing speeds to drop significantly.

The second reason is the structural issues in the sections where local roads connect to highways. Many roads in Queens were built a long time ago and do not have wide lanes. Additionally, vehicles exiting the highway converge onto narrow local roads all at once, leading to quick congestion. For example, areas like Flushing or Elmhurst already have many shops and restaurants, resulting in a lack of parking space, and when vehicles exit the highway, the congestion becomes extreme.

The third issue is double parking. Especially in commercial areas like Northern Boulevard or Main Street, delivery trucks or taxis often stop briefly. When one lane is blocked like this, the remaining vehicles naturally line up, worsening the congestion. From a driver's perspective, it becomes difficult to speed up as they have to avoid cars suddenly opening doors or taxis making abrupt stops in front of them.

Moreover, the roads in Queens are quite old, leading to frequent construction. Many projects involve repaving asphalt or replacing drainage pipes, and since most of this work occurs during the day, it often overlaps with rush hours. When lanes are reduced or detours are required, traffic jams can quickly lengthen.

The subway lines are not as dense as in Manhattan, and buses slow down depending on road conditions, so many people ultimately choose to drive. Especially with many families living in the area, and the need for vehicles when going to shopping centers or schools, the roads naturally become crowded.

Near JFK or LaGuardia airports, the area is always busy with logistics trucks, taxis, airport shuttles, and rideshare vehicles. When flight arrival times coincide, the roads leading to and from the airport, as well as nearby local roads, often become congested. Therefore, when rush hours overlap with peak airport times, Queens truly becomes a traffic hell.

The traffic congestion in Queens is not simply due to the number of cars but is a result of old road structures, the density of airports and commercial areas, and a car-centric lifestyle. Thus, it is important to avoid peak times when driving in this area. Adjusting schedules to before 7 AM or after 7 PM can make travel much easier.

Additionally, checking for commercial areas with a lot of double parking or construction zones in advance and finding detours can be helpful. Ultimately, driving in Queens seems to require a lot of patience.