New research suggests some tailbacks are leaving drivers stranded for up to fifteen hours (pictured here, the M6)
Traffic jams on UK motorways and A roads are costing the economy £9billion each year, it emerged last night.
New research suggests some tailbacks are leaving drivers stranded for up to fifteen hours.
Research published by transport data company Inrix has revealed that there were an average of 3,700 jams on Britain’s motorways and A roads every day.
This equates to more than 1.35million annually.
The research, which studied traffic over the last 12 months, estimated that the jams had cost the country £9billion in wasted time, excess fuel and unnecessary carbon emissions.
Data showed the worst queue of the year took place on August 4 on the M5 northbound near Junction 20 near Clevedon, Somerset.
The 15-hour jam caused traffic to tail back 36 miles, after an accident involving two lorries lead to a fuel spill and the subsequent closure of two lanes.
It was estimated that this cost the economy £2.4million alone.
Other significant traffic jams over the last 12 months included three on the M6 and one on the North Circular in London – costing up to £1.2million each.
Mel Clarke, customer service director at Highways England, said: ‘Last year [we] exceeded our target to keep 97 per cent of lanes available to road users, to help smooth the flow of traffic. . . We want drivers to have the best possible experience on our network.
‘To support this we provide accurate, up-to-date information about conditions on the roads and keep traffic moving as much as possible.’
According to The Times, transport minister Jesse Norman, has written to Highways England to suggest slip roads could be used to clear motorways after certain incidents.
New figures suggest traffic jams on UK motorways and A roads are costing the economy £9billion each year
It comes as new figures suggest queues on the UK’s major roads could reach a peak in November.
Analysis of queues during the 12 months to August found that November 2016 was the worst with almost 170,000 hold-ups – some 50 per cent above average.
Inrix chief economist Dr Graham Cookson said: ‘While queuing is considered a national pastime for many Brits, nothing is more frustrating than sitting in traffic.
‘Fuel spillages, emergency repairs and broken down lorries contributed to the biggest pile-ups this year.’
‘As we head into November, the worst month for traffic jams last year, we advise motorists use the latest real-time traffic technology to keep up to date with the situation on the roads.’