Drivers are facing longer delays on motorways and major highways in England than before the Covid pandemic, official figures from the Department for Transport confirmed today.
Statistics show that the average delay on the country’s busy strategic road network last year was 10.5 seconds per vehicle per mile (spvpm). This is an increase from 9.3 seconds in 2022 and 9.5 seconds in 2019, before the coronavirus crisis.
The RAC described the data as ‘very concerning’ and urged the Government to provide ‘sufficient resources’ to tackle the causes of rising congestion levels.
The automotive group said it is ‘struggling to see what the cause could be other than roadworks’ as it pointed out that more people than ever are working from home and there is no growth in the number of cars on the road.
Traffic nightmares on England’s busiest roads: The average delay time on motorways and major highways was 10.5 seconds per vehicle per kilometer last year. This is up from 9.3 seconds in 2022 and 9.5 seconds in 2019, before the coronavirus crisis, new DfT data shows
The DfT’s report says the pandemic is ‘a… significant impact on daily life, including congestion on the road network.
It added: ‘As in previous years, most road traffic has returned to pre-pandemic levels.’
Yet delay times on England’s busiest routes are now greater than those in 2019.
The average delay time on England’s Strategic Road Network (SRN) – which includes motorways and trunk roads – rose to 10.5 seconds per vehicle per mile (spvm) by 2023. That is more than before the pandemic and the longest average delay time in 8 years. year
Coincidentally, the average speed on A-roads and highways dropped to its lowest point in 2023, to just 90 km/h. Before the pandemic, the average speed was 93 km/h
Data collected by the department also showed that the average speed on England’s main road network fell to 90km/h last year, compared to 93.1km/h the year before and 93km/h before the pandemic in 2019.
And this cannot be attributed to the fact that there are more vehicles on the road. On the contrary.
Separate DfT figures show that traffic on Britain’s motorways last year (through September) was 1.4 per cent below 2019 levels – and there were 3.5 per cent fewer vehicles on motorways.
The new traffic statistics published on Thursday show that an increase in congestion on local A-roads costs commuters one minute per kilometer during peak times.
Compared to 2022, when Britain returned to pre-pandemic routines and workers began returning to the office, commuters are spending almost 5 percent more time in morning traffic and 7.5 percent more in the evening.
This map of England shows which motorways and major A-roads – which are managed by National Highways – have the longest and shortest delays, based on 2023 figures
The automotive group said it was ‘struggling to see what the cause could be other than roadworks’ as it pointed out that more people than ever were working from home and there was no growth in the number of cars on the road.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “It is deeply concerning to see delays on our major roads increasing above pre-pandemic levels and average speeds falling.
‘With more people than ever working from home at least part of the week and no growth in the number of cars on the road since then, it’s hard to see what could be the cause other than roadworks.
“We are aware that safety concerns related to the all-lane smart highways experiment will require significant adjustments to emergency shelter areas, which have limited capacity on these important routes.
‘While this is necessary, it is frustrating as it could easily have been avoided had the distance between them not been quietly reduced as more and more schemes were rolled out over the years.
‘Given today’s disappointing findings, it is more important than ever that National Highways, which is responsible for the strategic road network, receives sufficient funding over the next five years for road investment to directly address these issues.
“This is close to being agreed, so time is of the essence.”
Looking at the regional breakdown, year-over-year traffic delays have affected motorists in the West the most. The average deceleration there rose from 8.1 seconds per mile in 2022 to 9.5 seconds last year – an increase of 17 percent
This map infographic shows the regional breakdown of average delay times in each area. Unsurprisingly, London has the longest delays on its main roads, at 15.9 seconds per mile
The DfT report also showed what the average speed was on motorways and trunk roads in every region of Britain
Looking at the regional breakdown, year-over-year traffic delays have affected motorists in the West the most.
The average deceleration there rose from 8.1 seconds per mile in 2022 to 9.5 seconds last year – an increase of 17 percent.
It’s no surprise that it’s London’s drivers who spend the most time stuck in traffic.
The average delay in 2023 was 15.9 seconds for every vehicle kilometer, compared to 14.7 seconds the year before.
Chaos at peak times: Compared to 2022, when Britain returned to pre-pandemic routines and workers began returning to the office, commuters are spending almost 5% more time in morning traffic and 7.5% more in the evening
| Time period | 2022 Average delay (seconds per vehicle per mile) | 2023 Average delay (seconds per vehicle per mile) | % change compared to 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday morning peak | 53 seconds | 55.5 seconds | 4.7% |
| Weekday evening peak | 59.7 seconds | 64.2 seconds | 7.5% |
| Weekday Interpeak | 49.1 seconds | 51.2 seconds | 4.3% |
| Weekday off-peak hours | 23.3 seconds | 24.1 seconds | 3.4% |
The AA believes the increase in traffic delays is due to a combination of factors.
‘The inflexibility and cost of public transport, not to mention strikes, and people being forced further out of the city to find affordable housing, are reasons that only scratch the surface of why commuters and other travelers are willing to sit in cars and watch their time disappear. ,” said AA spokesperson Luke Bosdet.
‘It doesn’t have to be that way, as the astonishing success of Cambridge’s park and ride system shows: a system that converts millions of car journeys into bus journeys every year. Why? Because the car parks and bus services are in the right place, at the right time and – very importantly – at the right price.
‘Other councils are shaming their car commuters for a situation created by poor planning, poor investment and lack of imagination.
‘Worse, some have or are considering turning traffic congestion into a money-spinner through workplace parking charges – effectively a tax on work.’
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