Error parsing XSLT file: \xslt\FacebookOpenGraph.xslt UK congestion costs economy £30.8bn a year
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UK congestion costs economy £30.8bn a year

Date: 20 February 2017   |   Author: Daniel Puddicombe

New data has revealed the UK is the fourth most-congested developed country in the world and the third most congested in Europe.

According to traffic data giant Inrix, drivers in the UK spent an average of 32 hours in traffic last year in peak times, costing the economy £30.8bn, or £968 per driver.

Thailand holds the dubious honour of being the world's most congested developed country, with drivers spending 61 hours a year in peak times in traffic, while Russia is Europe's most gridlocked nation on 42 hours.

London is the UK's most congested city, with motorists spending 73 hours in traffic in rush hours last year, with Inrix estimating the gridlock cost the capital's economy £6.2bn.

Manchester is second-placed in terms of congestion, with drivers spending 39 hours a year in traffic, and Aberdeen is third on 35 hours.

Six of the UK's 10 busiest roads are also in the capital, with the most congested, with motorists spending 73 hours a year intraffic on the A406 between Chiswick Roundabout and Hanger Lane.

Comparisons between 2015 and 2016 data are unavailable because this year's methodology is "completely different" to previous years' research, the company said.

Previous data analysis by Inrix suggested that journey times in the capital increased by 12% year-on-year between 2012-2015 thanks to an increasing number of vans on the roads.

"Despite Brexit, 2016 saw the UK economy remaining stable, fuel prices staying low and employment growing to an 11-year high, all of which incentivises road travel and helped increase congestion," said Graham Cookson, chief economist at Inrix. "The cost of this congestion is staggering, stripping the economy of billions, impacting businesses and costing consumers dearly. 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."



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