Wider use of road user charging and initiatives such as remote working are needed to tackle the UK’s urban congestion problems according to transport data specialist INRIX.

 

The company published its latest Global Traffic Scorecard last week based on analysis of city congestion in 38 countries.

 

It ranks the UK as the third most congested country in Europe – behind Russia and Turkey – and says that drivers here wasted on average 32 hours sat in peak time congestion last year.

 

This cost motorists more than £30Bn in the 87 UK cities and large urban areas studied, it is estimated.

 

“The cost of this congestion is staggering, stripping the economy of billions, impacting businesses and costing consumers dearly,” commented INRIX chief economist Graham Cookson.

 

“To tackle this problem we must consider bold options such as remote working, wider use of road user charging and investment in ‘big data’ to create more effective and intelligent transportation systems.”

 

London was the UK’s most congested city, while the most congested road analysed was found to be the A406 northbound from Chiswick Roundabout to Hanger Lane in the capital. Here each driver spent 73 hours, or three days, in congestion last year.

 

Manchester, Aberdeen, Birmingham and Edinburgh round out the nation’s top five most congested cities according to INRIX.

 

However newly published research from navigation firm TomTom based on different methodology claims that in fact Belfast is the most congested city in the UK, followed by Edinburgh and London. TomTom came to its conclusion by comparing average journey times in each city against a hypothetical free flowing – or uncongested – scenario.

 

The company also claims that congestion across the country has risen by 5% over the past year.

 

(Photo: Mariordo and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)