Whether it's because of a car accident, construction, events, road closures or just the rush hour that seems to be extending into more hours of the day, if you're on the road in Toronto, you'll probably experience some sort of frustrating traffic scenario along your journey.

The city has some of the worst gridlock in the world, named the eighth-worst spot for driving headaches in all of the Americas, and the worst in Canada by far.

Though some may simply accept it as part of living in the metropolis, others are apparently finding it so bad that they are prepared to actually move because of it.

Toronto is not a place to live or drive! Every single thing is messed up there...

— Sam - 🇵🇰🇨🇦 (@samzone12) July 2, 2024

A new survey conducted by Ipsos for the Toronto Region Board of Trade shows that more than half of residents, 53 per cent, have thought about moving away from the GTA and its congestion. This was especially pronounced in younger demographics, with 64 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds saying they've contemplated it.

A representative sample of respondents was also asked whether they change their daily activities, such as shopping and going to sports games, because of traffic. A total of 42 per cent said yes, while 38 per cent say they actively avoid dining out because of how jammed and hectic it is on the roads, impacting bars and restaurants.

Another 31 per cent said they go out less for social visits with friends and family to avoid the congestion, which the board says shows the personal and mental health tolls traffic can take, even for those not in it.

The ever-present bottlenecks on our streets are also negatively affecting people's careers: a staggering 62 per cent said traffic makes them hesitant to go to work if they have the option to work remotely, while 59 per cent think they are less productive on the job because of the fatigue of long commutes.

Around one quarter (25 per cent) also limit where they apply for new positions keeping traffic in mind.

The only “world city” that doesn’t charge people to come into the core. This needs to happen yesterday.

— city.girl.angry (@citygirlangry) September 10, 2022

"These disruptions to daily activities not only highlight the personal inconvenience caused by traffic congestion but also underscore a threat to our quality of life. The reduced foot traffic in commercial areas can lead to a decline in business investments and a slowdown in economic growth within the GTHA," the group wrote.

"We're steadily cementing our reputation as a place where you can't get around. Gridlock is driving people's decisions on whether to go to work, the store, or even continue to call Toronto home... these findings highlight profound impact congestion has on daily life and our economy, driving home the urgent need for progress."

Other relevant stats from the report, released Tuesday: an astounding 86 per cent of citizens feel the Toronto area has a "congestion crisis," 57 per cent agreed there are too many vehicles on the road, and the majority are worried about the impacts to business and their own stress levels when they can't get somewhere on time.

The Board of Trade launched its own congestion task force earlier this year to draw attention to the issue, measure the extent to which it is an issue, and try to find solutions.

Toronto can't handle the traffic volume when all of the roads are open! I can't imagine what a nightmare this would be! 😬😬

— Garry Orvold 🟧 (@Orvold42) June 6, 2024

While there are some measures coming into play that should help somewhat — like higher penalties for certain common infractions and increasing enforcement in trouble spots — the organization and others believe that we need many, many more changes.