Atlanta Is America's Most Punctual City, New York Ranks Last: Survey
Columbia, Md. – September 30, 2026 -- A new survey from One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning finds Atlanta is the most punctual major U.S. market, while New York ranks last among 10 cities studied, with traffic cited as the top reason Americans fall behind schedule.
Respondents run late by an average of 10 minutes, with traffic the biggest culprit
Traffic or transportation delays account for 38% of lateness overall and 39% of late arrivals to work specifically. For flights and travel, 23% blame underestimating travel time, while 20% say distractions or losing track of time cause them to be late to family events.