London has once again secured its position as Europe’s most congested city, with drivers spending an average of 101 hours stuck in traffic last year, a 2% increase from the previous year, according to transport analytics company Inrix.
The capital’s traffic congestion remains a persistent issue, outpacing Paris and Dublin, which ranked second and third, respectively.
This represents a continued upward trend in congestion over the past few years, with London’s traffic delays rising from 97 hours in 2022 to 99 hours in 2023. The A40 Westway, a major route through London, was named the most congested road in the UK, with the worst traffic observed between 5pm and 6pm.
The economic cost of this congestion to London is estimated at £3.85 billion, which translates to about £942 for each of the city’s 4 million drivers. The congestion has wide-reaching impacts, including increased travel times and potential delays for businesses and commuters.
Following London, Paris experienced 97 hours of delays, while Dublin saw 81 hours of delays. The congestion situation in the UK cities outside London showed mixed results. Bristol and Leeds completed the top three most congested UK cities, with drivers in those areas losing 65 and 60 hours respectively. Manchester, however, saw the highest increase in congestion, with delays rising by 13% year-on-year.
Birmingham saw some improvement, dropping from second place for worst congestion to sixth, as traffic moved 10% more freely than in the previous year.
Bob Pishue, Inrix transportation analyst, pointed out that while congestion increased slightly in the UK overall, it was cities outside of London that saw the greatest rise in delays. Roadworks on major routes like the M25 Wisley interchange were particularly impactful on traffic flows.
Transport for London (TfL) emphasized its ongoing commitment to reducing congestion, pointing to investments in walking, cycling, and public transportation as part of efforts to promote more sustainable travel options and alleviate traffic problems.
London’s traffic issues are longstanding. Famous landmarks like Piccadilly Circus have long been synonymous with congestion, and the issue dates back to centuries ago, when diarist Samuel Pepys recorded delays during a journey in 1661. The problem led to the controversial proposal in the 1960s for a “box” mega motorway plan, which was scrapped after public protests.
As the capital continues to grapple with the challenges of urban congestion, the focus remains on finding solutions that balance growth and mobility while promoting sustainable alternatives.
