Forget the rush hour, it’s now the rush day: Traffic is now so bad on Britain’s roads that heading out in the morning is only seven seconds slower per mile than lunchtime
- Driving between 10am and 4pm causes average delays of 46.2 seconds per mile
- It’s only slightly quicker than the morning peak, says Department for Transport
- RAC renews calls for more investment on Britain’s congested road network
- Highways England insists it’s delivering £15bn programme to improve standards
Delays on the roads are now only marginally longer in the morning rush hour than they are in the middle of the day, according to figures.
The Department for Transport has revealed drivers are held up, on average, for 46.2 seconds per mile on Britain’s A-roads between 10am and 4pm on weekdays – only seven seconds less than they are during the notorious morning peak.
The data shows how motorists suffered average delays of 10 seconds per mile last year, up 1% on 2018, indicating that congestion on the strategic road network – managed by government-owned company Highways England – is getting worse amid record traffic levels.
It suggests driving along a 10-mile section of road with a 60mph limit typically took 11 minutes and 35 seconds last year, compared with 10 minutes in free-flow conditions.
Delays faced by drivers, pictured here in Blackfriars, London, are only seven seconds longer in the notorious morning rush than they are in the middle of the day, according to Department for Transport data
The DfT figures show 67% of additional time was needed to complete journeys in 2019 due to hold-ups.
Delays on local A-roads in 2019 typically lasted 44 seconds per mile, up 2% year-on-year.
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: ‘Regular drivers on England’s major roads won’t be surprised to hear that congestion in many areas is worsening.
‘These figures also chime with RAC research that indicates around two-thirds of drivers (65%) believe that journey times on these roads are becoming less reliable.
‘While the reasons for this may be complex, record levels of road traffic combined with drivers admitting that they are becoming increasingly dependent on the car are both likely to be significant factors.
| Local authority area | Delays per mile (seconds) |
|---|---|
| City of London | 260.5 |
| Camden | 232.5 |
| Westminster | 226.8 |
| Kensington & Chelsea | 186.8 |
| Hackney | 169.8 |
| Islington | 168.3 |
| Southwark | 165.2 |
| Lambeth | 154.4 |
| Hammersmith & Fulham | 148.1 |
| Haringey | 139.6 |
‘In many cases, drivers have no choice other than to use their vehicles, meaning there is a strong case for continued, sustained investment in England’s major roads.
‘It’s also worth remembering that Highways England is in the middle of an ambitious road investment strategy, with many parts of the network being converted to smart motorways and other upgrades happening elsewhere.
‘The knock-on effect of these roadworks is likely to mean more congestion on the network, at least in the short term.’
A Highways England spokesman said: ‘We know drivers want smooth journeys with no congestion, and we’re delivering a £15 billion programme to improve their experience.
‘Improvements can mean roadworks but we do all we can during them to keep disruption to a minimum, and our traffic officers do an excellent job supporting our customers on a daily basis.’