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London will be hit hardest by Olympic traffic the week before the games begin, according to Ian Wainwright, road freight transport manager at Transport for London.
Speaking at car fleet operator association ACFO's recent Olympic seminar in Brentwood, Essex, he said: "We think it will really hit London when the torch relay comes, which is the Saturday before the games [which start on 25 July].
"There are currently 25 million journeys a day in London and the Olympics will add three million to that. There will be issues."
Wainwright explained to delegates that an Olympic Route Network (ORN) will be put in place for the duration of the games, which will have one lane dedicated solely to accredited games traffic.
"The ORN is for the games family to move around. It will open two days before the games start then it will close two days after the games finish in August. The same will happen for the Paralympics."
The ORN consists of 109 miles of the city's road network and will occupy one lane on selected sections of dual carriageway, which in some cases, will be the bus lane.
James Hookham of the Freight Transport Association, said that fleets would be most affected not by travelling on the ORN, but by attempting to cross it: "If you get onto the Olympic route and you follow it, it could possibly be the best journey you've ever had on those roads because the usual obstructions will not be there.
"However, if you're trying to cross the routes regularly then you will have problems because of the traffic flow."
Wainwright also told delegates that large areas around the venues themselves - both in London and nationally - will be restricted.
"Around each venue there is a venue traffic and parking plan. The broader parking system is to try and stop people from driving to the event.
"Some petrol stations will be impacted - you may not be able to get to the petrol station you always use. Councils have looked at increasing penalty charges in areas around the park and decisions are currently with the Mayor about this, but the likelihood is that there will be a penalty charge increase in that area."
He said there will be a £200 penalty for drivers who use the ORN or park in restricted areas, which will be enforced by cameras.
Fleets can find information on London's transport and road network before and during the Olympics at www.getaheadofthegames.com and www.tfl.gov.uk/2012.
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