Drivers are facing longer delays on motorways and major A-roads in England than they experienced before the Covid pandemic, official figures from the Department for Transport have confirmed today.
The statistics show the average hold-up on the country’s busy strategic road network last year was 10.5 seconds per vehicle per mile (spvpm). This is up from 9.3 seconds in 2022 and 9.5 seconds in 2019, before the coronavirus crisis.
The RAC described the data as ‘very concerning’ and urged the Government to provide ‘sufficient funds’ to tackle the causes of rising congestion levels.
The motoring group said it is ‘struggling to see what the cause can be other than roadworks,’ as it pointed to more people than ever working from home, and there being no growth in the number of cars on the road.
Traffic nightmares on England’s busiest roads: The average delay time on motorways and major A-roads last year was 10.5 seconds per vehicle per mile. This is up from 9.3 seconds in 2022 and 9.5 seconds in 2019, before the coronavirus crisis, new DfT data shows
The DfT’s report says the pandemic has ‘had a marked impact on everyday life, including on congestion on the road network’.
It added: ‘As with previous years, most road traffic has trended back towards levels seen before the pandemic.’
Yet the delay times seen on England’s busiest routes have now surpassed those seen in 2019.
The average delay time on England’s motorways and A-roads rose to 10.5 seconds per mile in 2023. That’s the higher than pre-pandemic and the longest average delay time in 8 years
Coincidentally, the average speed travelled on A-roads and motorways slipped to its slowest in 2023, dropping to just 57mph. Pre-pandemic, the average speed was 58mph
Data collated by the department also revealed that the average speed on England’s major road network last year had slipped to 57mph, down from 58.1mph during the previous year and 58mph in pre-pandemic 2019.
And this can’t be attributed to there being more vehicles on the road. Quite the contrary, in fact.
Separate DfT figures show that the amount of traffic on Britain’s motorways last year (to the month of September) was 1.4 per cent below 2019 levels – and on A-roads there was 3.5 per cent fewer vehicles.
The new traffic statistics published Thursday shows that a rise in congestion on local A-roads is costing commuters a minute a mile at peak times.
Compared to 2022, when the UK was getting back into pre-pandemic routines and workers began to return to the office, commuters are spending nearly 5 per cent more time in morning traffic and 7.5 per cent more in the evening.
This map of England shows which motorways and major A-road – which are managed by National Highways – have the longest and shortest delays, based on 2023 figures
The motoring group said it ‘struggled to see what the cause can be other than roadworks,’ as it pointed to more people than ever working from home, and there being no growth in the number of cars on the road
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Using hypermiling techniques ‘can easily save the equivalent of 9p-a-litre’, says the AA.
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RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: ‘It’s very concerning to see delays on our most important roads increasing to above pre-pandemic levels and average speeds dropping.
‘With more people than ever working from home at least part of the week and no growth in the number of cars on the road since then, we’re struggling to see what the cause can be other than roadworks.
‘We’re aware safety concerns relating to the all-lane-running smart motorway experiment have required lots of retrofitting of emergency refuge areas which has limited capacity on these key routes.
‘While this is necessary, it is frustrating as it could easily have been avoided had the distance between them not been quietly reduced as more schemes were rolled out over the years.
‘Given today’s disappointing findings, it’s more important than ever that National Highways, which is responsible for the strategic road network, is given sufficient funds in the next five-year road investment settlement to tackle these issues head on.
‘This is just about to be agreed so time is of the essence.’
Looking at the regional breakdown, year-on-year traffic delays impacted drivers in the West most. The average delay there rose from 8.1 seconds per mile in 2022 to 9.5 seconds last year – an increase of 17 per cent
This map infographic shows the regional breakdown for average delay times in each area. London, unsurprisingly, has the longest hold-ups on major roads, at 15.9 seconds per mile
The DfT report also showed what the average speed was on motorways and A-roads in each region of the UK
Looking at the regional breakdown, year-on-year traffic delays impacted drivers in the West most.
The average delay there rose from 8.1 seconds per mile in 2022 to 9.5 seconds last year – an increase of 17 per cent.
Unsurprisingly, it’s motorists in London who spend the most time stuck in traffic.
The average delay in 2023 was 15.9 seconds for every vehicle mile, up from 14.7 seconds the year previous.
Peak time travel chaos: Compared to 2022, when the UK was getting back into pre-pandemic routines and workers began to return to the office, commuters are spending nearly 5% more time in morning traffic and 7.5% more in the evening
| Time Period | 2022 Average delay (spvpm) | 2023 Average delay (spvpm) | % change from 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday Morning Peak | 53 | 55.5 | 4.7 |
| Weekday Evening Peak | 59.7 | 64.2 | 7.5 |
| Weekday Inter Peak | 49.1 | 51.2 | 4.3 |
| Weekday Off Peak | 23.3 | 24.1 | 3.4 |
The AA believes the rise in traffic delays is due to a combination of factors.
‘The inflexibility and cost of public transport, not to mention strikes, and people being forced further out of town to find affordable housing are reasons that only scrape the surface of why commuters and other travellers are prepared to sit in cars and watch their time disappear,’ explained AA spokesman Luke Bosdet.
‘It doesn’t need to be this way, as the astonishing success of the park and ride system in Cambridge shows: a scheme that converts millions of car journeys into bus trips each year. Why? Because the car parks and bus services are located in the right place, at the right time and, crucially, at the right price.
‘Other councils pillory their car commuters for a situation that was created by bad planning, poor investment and lack of imagination.
‘Worse still, some have or are contemplating turning congestion into a money-spinner through workplace parking levies – effectively a tax on work.’
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