High gasoline prices and a slowing economy means less traffic in Honolulu and across the country, according to a traffic-congestion study released today.

Overall, congestion fell in 96 of 100 markets, according to the INRIX National Traffic Scorecard. All of the 50 largest markets had decreases in congestion during the first half of 2008.

Though Honolulu and Los Angeles retained their first and second places, respectively, on the report, however, congestion dropped in both areas. Honolulu's Travel Time Index, which is a ratio of peak period travel time to free flow travel time, dropped from 1.47 in 2007 to 1.36 this year, according to the report.

That means, for example, that a trip that took 29.4 minutes last year now takes 27.2 minutes.

INRIX is a company that compiles traffic information nationwide.