Report reveals increase in road congestion levels

Research by the traffic management company TomTom has found that over the past year, congestion levels have become more severe in eleven of the UK's seventeen largest cities, including London, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Brighton, Belfast and Newcastle It states that on average, the overall amount of time that commuters spent stuck in traffic was nine working days. Congestion levels remained static in Glasgow, Bristol and Birmingham. In contrast, congestion levels fell in Nottingham, Leeds, Brad
November 6, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Research by the traffic management company 1692 TomTom has found that over the past year, congestion levels have become more severe in eleven of the UK's seventeen largest cities, including London, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Brighton, Belfast and Newcastle

It states that on average, the overall amount of time that commuters spent stuck in traffic was nine working days. Congestion levels remained static in Glasgow, Bristol and Birmingham.

In contrast, congestion levels fell in Nottingham, Leeds, Bradford and Edinburgh. TomTom attributes the higher congestion levels to the upturn in the economy, which has resulted in more traffic on the roads.

However, it also suggests that in some places it could have been caused by the introduction of more cycle lanes and pedestrian zones, which has taken away some road space. The Government forecasts that traffic on local roads will increase by 41 per cent by 2040, whilst traffic on motorways will increase by 46 per cent.

Related Content

  • May 26, 2015
    Göteborg congestion charge hailed a success
    A new analysis of Göteborg's congestion pricing program suggests that it has been effective in cutting traffic congestion and contributed to more commuters taking public transport. The authors of the analysis, Maria Börjesson and Ida Kristoffersson, say that the examples of Göteborg and the Swedish capital Stockholm prove the advantages of road pricing for cities of varying size and density.
    Read More
  • March 16, 2016
    Parking provision dictates commuters’ modal choice
    Researchers from two American Universities have found the provision of parking spaces can encourage automobile use and increase traffic congestion. It is well understood that increased automobile use is linked to congestion, environmental degradation and negative health and safety impacts. Trials of smart parking technology has shown a reduction in circulating traffic (looking for parking) can ease congestion and that the cost of parking can influence commuters’ modal choice. Now, researchers at the univers
    Read More
  • May 9, 2019
    TRL: Cities must do more to help VRUs
    UK cities must learn from the Netherlands and Denmark if active travel and increased safety for vulnerable road users are to co-exist, says TRL’s Marcus Jones Active travel’ refers to modes of transport in which physical effort is required to undertake purposeful journeys - for example, walking or cycling to school, work or the local shops, as well as walking and standing as part of accessing public transport. The benefits of replacing short car journeys with more active forms of transport are obvious. Act
    Read More
  • April 11, 2014
    Mayor’s lane rental scheme cuts roadwork disruption
    A new study into London’s lane rental scheme shows that since its introduction the amount of serious and severe disruption caused by planned roadworks has been cut by 46 per cent on the capital’s busiest roads, reducing delays for all road users. The scheme, which came into effect in June 2012 on the busiest parts of London’s road network, is designed to encourage utility companies to avoid digging up the busiest roads at peak traffic times. Following the introduction of the scheme, around 90 per cent of
    Read More

Highlighted Content