By Jena Ali

The UK’s roads are more congested than ever, it’s not just a rush hour problem anymore. From quiet rural lanes to major cities, the congestion is severely overcrowded, frustrating commuters and raising serious concern about the future of the UK’s transportation system. According to the UK government’s Department for Transport (DFT) car traffic has increased by 3.0% from 2022.

In recent years, the UK has noticed a surge in traffic on its roads causing more delays, longer commutes and heightened frustrations for the drivers across the country. What was once considered rush hour headaches has now become a persistent problem, splitting over different parts of the day and reaching beyond the traditional city centres. In 2023, DFT estimated 69.9 billion vehicles miles were travelled on UK’s motorways, an increase of 2.4% in 2022.

Several factors have contributed to this rise such as post pandemic travels, urban expansion, and the now larger quantity of car owners. The remote working environment may have initially suggested a reduce in traffic. However, instead it led to a more unpredictable flow of vehicles.

People are no longer tied to inflexible office hours and as a results road congestion has spread a wider range of times. This change has also increased personal car usage, many people opt into the convenience of their own car over public transport due to many factors, like high cost of tickets, unreliable times, lack of direct routes to their destination.

Scotrail’s off-peak journeys have seen a sudden increase of 8.7% in ticket prices. Though the UK is pushing people to change their car dependent mindset, it can be very difficult when the price is extremely high. Especially for students who travelled abroad to study or are already in debt to pay for their rent in their accommodations.

Alongside this, the growth of online delivery has placed an even bigger burden on UK roads. Delivery vans are constantly present with their next day delivery incentives. This is a huge contributing factor to congestion, particularly in urban areas where online shopping is prominent. According to DFT, it was estimated that van traffic in 2023 was higher than before the pandemic, by 8.1% compared to 2019

In 2022 and 2023, DFT calculated that van traffic rose by 1.6%, at least 13 billion vehicle miles. The rise of home deliveries means that the streets are often clogged with vehicles making a stop every few minutes. This overlaps school hours making peak times even more difficult for travel.

During the national pandemic lockdowns, traffic volumes dropped dramatically. DFT estimated a decrease of 0.9% in motorway traffic in 2023 compared to 2019. However, as restrictions eased, a quick rebound in vehicle usage was sure to occur. Between 2022 to 2023 DFT estimated that traffic levels on minor roads increased by 2.5%.

According to the DFT’s “National Roads Traffic Projection 2022” Road traffic in Wales and England will increase by 54% in 2060, indicating a significant rise of congestions in UK roads. The estimated prediction of an 8% increase in traffic volume suggests a corresponding increase in delays per mile driven. This could potentially rise to 85% over the same period.

The environmental impact is equally concerning, increased traffic means more emission. Rural areas where many family-oriented people live will have to take safer measures with children are playing outside, animals will have to be more restricted and could no longer freely roam.

While the increase in traffic is a major concern, there are key measures that must take place to solve the UK’s traffic crisis. An expanded and reasonably priced public transport system alongside sustainable urban planning is a must if cities hope to see improvement.

The rise of traffic on UK roads is an undeniable reality, with concerning implications for the environment and economy. By using data from DFT’s “National Roads Traffic Projection 2022” the UK can begin to find solutions to one of its biggest burdens. But as of now, the roads remain as busy as ever, showing no signs of improvement.

Traffic troubles continue to congest UK roads