Traffic congestion in London at 8am yesterday was down 38% compared to a standard day, well short of the 51% peak time reduction seen during the first lockdown, according to data from navigation company TomTom.

In Manchester congestion was down 35% yesterday compared to a 56% reduction in March, and in Birmingham congestion was down only 3% against a 44% fall at the start of the first national restriction on travel.

Edinburgh saw a 50% fall in congestion compared to a typical day yesterday, as opposed to 62% back in March. In Belfast and Cardiff the falls in congestion were closer to levels seen last spring.

Transport planner and researcher Dr Luis Willumsen suggested that the data could indicate that more people are less compliant with the current restrictions than during the first lockdown.

He added: “It is too early to say which of the changes in travel behaviour observed during the pandemic will stick. But most people seem keen to revert as far as possible to the old normal; keener than I expected.”

He also pointed out that people who need to travel are avoiding public transport when they can – with an apparent jump in second hand car prices – and said that levels of cycling have been declining since mid November compared to previous years.

(Photograph: Pajor Pawel - Shutterstock)