Traffic jams cost each driver more than €1,000 in wasted time in Europe’s most congested city last year.
London has the most congested roads in Europe for the fourth year in a row, according to a new analysis.
Traffic analytics company Inrix found that it had the fifth most clogged roads in the world overall.
Inrix says in its 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard that the capital city accounted for around half of all UK traffic delays, costing around £3.85 billion (€4.64 billion) in lost time or £942 (€1,135) per driver.
The analytics firm says the city has some of the worst corridors for traffic delays due to its “concentration of population, employment and economic activity”.
“While the UK did see a slight increase in congestion again this year, overall congestion has remained steady,” says Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst and author of the report.
“Roadworks in key corridors such as M25 Wisely Interchange caused considerable traffic on a main artery into the capital.”
Pishue adds that, though London accounted for half of all congestion, it was cities outside of the capital that saw the UK’s biggest increases in traffic issues. Across the UK, drivers spent an average of 62 hours stuck in traffic last year.
Some of the busiest roads in the UK are in London
Transport For London is responsible for a network of red routes – major roads where vehicles are not allowed to stop, park, or load and unload – that carry around a third of the UK capital’s traffic.
A spokesperson for the local government body says that it is “committed to making sure Londoners can move around the capital as safely, sustainably and efficiently as possible”.
“We support the movement of everyone across London and our investment in walking, cycling and public transport is making it easier to choose sustainable ways of travelling, helping to cut congestion.
“Our network includes some of the busiest roads in the country and we continue to invest in world-leading programmes to make sure roads are used as efficiently as possible.”
Where are Europe’s other most congested cities?
The ranking is based on the length of delays drivers face, weighted by the number of people who live in each city. Unsurprisingly, a number of Europe’s capital cities came out on top of the list.
London drivers spent on average 101 hours sitting in traffic last year, according to Inrix’s analysis.
Paris, France had Europe’s second most congested roads and the sixth globally with drivers facing 97 hours of delay. Dublin, Ireland is the third most congested city in Europe with 81 hours of delays.
Next is Rome where drivers spend an average of 71 hours sitting in traffic, then Brussels where the delays tally up to 74 hours a year.
ADVERTISEMENT“For the fourth year in a row, London takes top spot for the most congested city in Europe,” climate charity Possible said in a post on social media site X.
“This is a nightmare for the climate, Londoners’ health, and the economy. We need to be bolder in getting people walking, cycling & using public transport.”
