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Is Cheap Fuel To Blame For Rush Hour Congestion Getting Worse?

With lower fuel costs comes more traffic, as more people choose to travel to work by car.  This is a little counterproductive, as the money saved when filling up the tank, is perhaps then wasted sitting in heavy traffic. So what’s the answer?

Andrew Brady, Motoring Research, reports:

Statistics released by the Department for Transport (DfT) today have revealed that the average speed on British A-roads on weekday mornings has dropped to just 23.6mph – 3.5% slower than a year ago.

The DfT analyses traffic levels congestion levels on A-roads using GPS systems, between 7am and 10am.

It found that the average speed through the morning rush hour went up between December 2010 and February 2012 – when fuel was more expensive. In 2011, the average petrol price shot to over 135p per litre.

But now, as fuel prices are going down, so are average speeds as more people choose to commute by car.

RAC’s head of external affairs, Pete Williams, said: “Our roads are getting busier, meaning the network each morning is under real strain in certain locations. Many improvement schemes are already underway and further investment is just around the corner, but it will certainly be a case of congestion having to get worse before it gets better.”

Over the last year (between September 2014 and September 2015), London has seen the biggest drop in average speeds (a fall of 4.5%).

The East of England continues to have the highest average weekday morning peak speed and London continues to have the lowest (at 28.3 mph and 14.8 mph respectively in the year ending September 2015). The DfT points out that the falls in average speeds in London might partly be attributed to a reduction of speed limits in some London boroughs.

Williams added: “It is absolutely critical that the investment into A-roads and the wider Strategic Network is protected and for the Government to push ahead with identifying key pinch-points for a second road investment strategy. Motorists will be unforgiving should they not start to see genuine improvements in journey times over the next five years given the eye-watering sums they pay in taxation.”

It’s encouraging that this issue has been recognised, and that improvement schemes are underway. In the meantime, be aware of increased congestion at certain hours of the day, and hopefully things will ‘get moving’ soon.

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