UK’s traffic hell mapped – towns with WORST congestion revealed where drivers spend 360 HOURS trapped in queues a year

A NEW map has revealed the towns and cities with the worst traffic congestion in the UK – where drivers spend up to 360 hours a year trapped in queues.

The map, based on research by Compare the Market’s car insurance, has Bradford in first place, with a traffic index score of 217.

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The average Bradford local spends nearly 360 hours – or 15 whole days – spent in traffic queues, according to the study.

This is mainly down to the high number of motorists in the area – with 80 per cent saying they drive to work.

Next up is Peterborough with a score of 210.4, followed by Bedford with 173.3, Huddersfield with 178.2 and Bournemouth with 171.6.

The research also suggests that the average Brit spends 240 hours a year stuck in traffic – or ten days.

Julie Daniels, from Compare the Market, told the Express: “Getting stuck in traffic, especially when you’re running late, can be incredibly frustrating.

“However, this is a common occurrence for many, as we spend almost 10 days a year stuck in traffic on average.

“Plus, 17 per cent of drivers admit to experiencing road rage due to slow driving, so it’s important to take steps to help reduce the stress brought on by traffic.”

To reduce inconvenience, Julie advised allowing extra journey time.

She also recommended checking traffic apps for live updates – to make sure you’re always prepared.

This can help motorists alleviate stress, Julie added.

She also highlighted the importance of staying alert, no matter how tedious standstill traffic may feel.

“Keep the music volume down, maintain a safe distance, and resist the urge to reach for your phone,” she said.

“Using a mobile phone while driving – even when stationary – is illegal and could result in a fine of up to £1,000 and six penalty points on your license.”

Last month, a different study by Traffic Chart, suggested that Surrey, Essex, Hampshire and Kent are also among the worst areas for traffic.

The numbers were calculated by looking at the total volume of all vehicle traffic miles, the number of licensed vehicles, and the annual average daily flow of traffic in 2023.

Traffic Chart then gave each factor a score out of 100 – which was tallied for each local authority.

Surrey topped the table, with a total index score of 88.70 out of 100.

The data showed that the county had 802,236 licensed vehicles, which spent a total of 8.448 billion miles in traffic in 2023.