Motorway travel times 30pc up on 1998
By Paul Marston, Transport Correspondent
(Filed: 26/11/2002)

Road journey-times have increased by an average of 16 per cent over the past four years and more than 30 per cent on the busiest stretches of motorway, according to a study published yesterday.

The analysis, by the driver information group, Trafficmaster, showed that delays had risen much faster than the increase in traffic, suggesting that the knock-on effects of network bottlenecks were worsening.

Meanwhile separate research by the RAC concluded that environmentally sensitive expansion of the most congested 930 miles of the roads network would cost only six per cent of the annual tax take from motorists over 30 years.

The Trafficmaster study found that travel times on the M6 through Cheshire had soared by 164 per cent since 1998, while users of the M1 between Leicester and south Yorkshire faced a 143 per cent rise in journey time.

The country's worst hotspots, the western section of the M25 between Junctions 10 and 21a and the M6 to the north of Birmingham, had both seen delays increase by 43 per cent.

A further seven stretches of motorway had experienced increases in congestion of 33 per cent or more. All these rises were well ahead of the general growth in motorway traffic since 1998, which the Department for Transport puts at 10 per cent.

Trafficmaster, which uses more than 7,000 roadside sensors to monitor vehicle flows, also analysed typical city-to-city journeys around the country. It found that trips between Cambridge and Ipswich took almost 20 per cent longer than four years ago, while those between Manchester and Liverpool had lengthened by a similar amount.

The report suggested that one factor in the worsening congestion was commuters' willingness to drive longer distances to work rather than go by rail. As a result, the morning traffic peak now lasted from 6am to 11.30am, compared with 7-10am previously. The afternoon peak also started earlier, at about 4pm, and lasted until 7.30.

Changes in working patterns meant that homebound traffic congestion - which used to be worst across the country on Fridays - had become just as bad on Thursdays.

In urban areas, the decline in walking or cycling to school had also played a part in increasing delays. The most spectacular school run effect was in London, where journey-times were recorded as 50 per cent higher in term-time than in holiday weeks.

The study concluded that Britain's congestion levels were the worst in Europe and cost the economy £18 billion a year in time and lost business. Regions where an economic boom had coincided with a deterioration in public transport had suffered most of all.

Looking ahead, the authors offered little comfort: "We predict that that congestion will continue to get worse in may areas and that many drivers should prepare to spend more time in the car." The RAC report forecast that traffic would grow by 46 per cent over the next 30 years, causing extreme increases in travel times unless additional highway capacity was built.

It estimated that the extra roadspace needed to keep congestion at the current level would be the equivalent of 470 miles of new motorway, and a similar length of A-roads. The document said environmental impact could be minimised by widening roads within their existing land corridors, and putting routes in tunnels through sensitive areas.

It said that the whole package could be built for about £70 billion.

Over three decades, this would equate to £2.4 billion a year, about six per cent of the £41 billion annual yield from motoring taxes.

• Have you a story to tell?

  Getting round Britain has never seemed more difficult. Motorway congestion is worsening, traffic flow in the cities seems slower than ever and the rail network is increasingly vulnerable to equipment failure and the effects of the weather. Ministers blame years of under-investment, but there is little sign of the problem being addressed.

  Has your life been made harder by the chaotic state of the system? Do you have a horror story to tell? The Daily Telegraph would like to hear details of how your journey to work has become more difficult, about your most recent nightmare journey, or your general observations on how the transport system in your area has changed recently. Please e-mail your contributions to transport@telegraph.co.uk or write to Grinding to a halt? c/o Newsdesk, The Daily Telegraph, 1 Canada Square, London E14 5DT.