Traffic Congestion

Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction between vehicles slows the speed of the traffic stream, this results in congestion.

Facts

YRS

31% Predicted increase IN Traffic
in England by 2015

40% Predicted increase IN Traffic
in England by 2025

68% PERCENTAGE OF people WHO think that
the level of traffic congestion has
got worse
over the last 3 years

25% Of all main roads are
jammed for an hour a day

12% Of all journeys are
made by public transport

There are now more households
with at least 2 cars

than households with no car

average length
of a car trip (miles)

  • 1980
  • 1990
  • 2005
7.6 8.5

On average, women
drive shorter distances
than men

England's motorways and trunk roads
are the busiest in Europe with 153 billion kM travelled each year on a road network
almost 6,000 miles in length.