Traffic jams cost UK drivers £9bn in a year
New research has found the costly extent of traffic jams
Traffic jams on UK roads in the past year cost drivers around £9 billion last year, according to new research.
An estimated 1.35 million jams occurred in the past year on UK roads, with causes ranging from fuel spills to broken down lorries.
The £9bn figure was composed of wasted time, fuel and unnecessary carbon emissions. Estimates were made based on assumptions about trip purposes and the fuel consumption of the average vehicle.
November was the worst month in terms of volume traffic, with 169,000 jams on the UK’s major roads. The year’s worst jam occurred on August 4 2017 on the M5 Northbound, which saw tailbacks reach 35 miles long and lasted for 15 hours. In all, it is estimated to have cost road users £2.4 million.
Another jam, this time located on the M6 Northbound, lasted for eight hours and stretched 31 miles and costed just over £1.1 million.
Nick Lyes, RAC roads policy spokesman, also commented on the findings, saying: “Congestion is a major cause of frustration for motorists and delays undoubtedly have a significant negative impact on the UK’s economy.
“We now have record numbers of vehicles and a road network that struggles to cope with the increased volume of traffic. This is very clearly demonstrated on a daily basis with congestion at key pinch-points around the country.
“Sadly, the fragility of the road network is exposed whenever there is a major incident on a motorway. The fall-out effect of motorists seeking alternative routes causes serious traffic jams in surrounding areas, often bringing gridlock to towns and cities as a result.”
