Traffic jams will cost motorists £62BILLION by 2025, says new study

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Time wasted in the UK’s worst traffic jams will cost motorists £62 billion by 2025

Transport information company Inrix identified more than 20,000 congestion pinch points in 21 cities across the country. 

Analysis of the average duration, length and frequency of the hold-ups in September found that the impact of traffic hotspots will cost London drivers £42 billion over the next decade. 

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The report said the capital’s worst section of road for congestion is the M25 northbound between junctions 15 and 16, near Heathrow Airport. 

Edinburgh was in second place at £2.8 billion, followed by Glasgow (£2.3 billion), Birmingham (£2 billion) and Manchester (£1.9 billion). 

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Edinburgh was in second place at £2.8 billion

The estimated £62 billion cost to drivers of hours wasted in queues was calculated using value of travel time figures from a Department for Transport-commissioned report. 

Let’s make sure we focus spending on those worst-hit hotspots

Inrix’s chief economist Graham Cookson

This was more than any other country in Europe, with Germany the next closest at £42 billion and Italy third at £19 billion. 

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The Government pledged to spend £220m to tackle congestion on England’s motorways and major A roads

In last week’s Autumn Statement, the Government pledged to spend £220 million to tackle congestion on England’s motorways and major A roads. 

Inrix’s chief economist Graham Cookson said identifying where delays are having the biggest impact can allow for the most efficient use of investment. 

He said: “Let’s make sure we focus spending on those worst-hit hotspots because, given the amount of money, we want to get the most benefit out of it.”