Literally been in traffic jams regularly in Tokyo area and NYC area at nearly all hours of day or night. In the Tokyo area there are no freeways, only toll based highways, mostly true in the NYC area. Even on the toll based highways the traffic is dead stopped from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Weekends the dead stopped traffic almost lasts all night. Public transport is always the better option. Even with the public transit the traffic is insane.

Other than dramatic snow days (not even average snow days) or dramatic accidents, Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain are nothing as far as traffic compared to major cities. Don't ever try to drive away from a major metropolitan area on a Friday night or Saturday morning. Insanity. It can be hours to go the 7 miles mentioned by the OP every Saturday morning or Friday evening.

Very happy to live 2 minutes from I-15 in north Orem. Multiple major road options going every direction in addition to I-15.