A report published today [10 January] by Inrix, a transport and mobility analysis firm, has named London as the world’s most congested city for the second year in a row.
The report, named the 2022 Global Traffic Scorecard, looked at congestion and mobility behaviours in more than 1,000 cities around the world.
The average London driver lost 156 hours to sitting in traffic in 2022, according to Inrix, marking a five percent increase compared to pre-pandemic figures.
According to the report, the average UK driver lost 80 hours to traffic congestion, marking a seven-hour increase compared to 2021 and a 35-hour decline compared to 2019.
What’s more, Inrix’s analysis found that 72% (79 of the 110) of the UK urban areas it examined either met or exceeded congestion levels before Covid-19.
Other key highlights included that commuting in London came with an average annual cost of £1,377, making it the most expensive place to do so in the UK.
It was followed by Bristol, which saw an average of £805 worth of lost time, with UK commuters also paying £122 more for fuel in 2022 due to rising oil prices.
Bob Pishue, transportation analyst and report author, said: “It is great to see civic and commercial life returning to normal, but unfortunately, we’re seeing congestion inching closer to, if not exceeding, pre- pandemic levels.
“We must manage congestion while improving mobility and accessibility in cities to avoid it hurting economic recovery and impacting the quality of life of commuters and residents.”
In addition to this, the report found that the UK’s five most congested roads were all in London, with the capital’s most congested corridor—the A219 S/B from A304 Fulham Road to A297 Morden Hall Road—causing drivers to lose 47 hours in 2022.
