Capital of congestion

Jams in Edinburgh add 40pc to drivers’ city journey times

EDINBURGH is Britain’s most congested city – where motorists spend longer behind the wheel stuck in queues than elsewhere in the UK.

Analysts used satellite imagery and data to study traffic jams across the UK to pinpoint the worst delays.

They found that motorists in Scotland’s capital – which has a population of just over 520,000 – faced an average of 40 per cent extra travel time because of jams. For a journey meant to take an hour, that means an additional 24 minutes stuck in queues.

Tory Lothian MSP Miles Briggs said: ‘This survey will comes as little surprise to motorists in the capital who are at their wits end over gridlock in the streets. The city’s infrastructure is not fit for purpose and these endless delays are damaging for our economy and lead to more emissions.’

Motorist Alastair Greene, 45, from Edinburgh, said: ‘It’s very, very frustrating.’ RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: ‘The reality is that a lack of affordable and practical alternatives are making drivers heavily dependent on their vehicles.’

It is the fifth year running Edinburgh has taken the top spot. According to the TomTom traffic index, motorists could save up to two hours per year by avoiding travelling around the city at 4pm on Fridays.

London was the UK’s second most congested city, with motorists facing an average of 37 per cent extra travel time. No other Scottish city made it into the top ten of the survey – which was organised by temporary insurance provider GoShorty.

Other cities in the list included Manchester, Leicester and Belfast.

The most congested city in the world was found to be Bengaluru, India, where you have to add 70 per cent to the expected travel time, a whopping 42 extra minutes on a one-hour trip.

Edinburgh transport and environment convener Scott Arthur said: ‘I would urge everyone to use our excellent public transport links, which provide sustainable alternatives to people using their vehicles… or travel actively by walking or cycling if they possibly can.

‘This will not only alleviate congestion, but help deliver on our environmental priorities of improving air quality and driving down carbon emissions.’