Yorkshire city worse than Shanghai and Hong Kong for traffic congestion
HULL IS the fifth most congested city in the UK and 66th in the world, with more traffic snarlups than in Shanghai, Buenos Aires and Hong Kong, according to new figures.
Analysis by sat-nav manufacturer TomTom shows the city in joint fourth place in the UK with Bournemouth, after Edinburgh, London and Brighton, with a typical rush hour journey taking 34 per cent longer compared to freeflow conditions.
Sheffield is ranked 16th worst in the UK, with journeys taking 28 per cent longer than in free-flow conditions, while Leeds-Bradford is in 18th worst position (27 per cent). On average Northern commuters spend more than five days – 123 hours – stuck in traffic a year
It comes amid increasing concern over air pollution with figures suggesting people in Yorkshire are now 21 times more likely to die from its effects than road accidents.
Globally Bengaluru in southern India is worst for congestion, with three other Indian cities in the top 10.
TomTom traffic advisor Stephanie Leonard said more shared car and electric schemes and more autonomous systems could help. She said: “It is very science fiction but you would be surprised by how close we are to having (autonomous) vehicles on the road. We think they could be a key enabler to bring down traffic congestion.”
A long-awaited £392m upgrade is due to start on Hull’s most congested route, the A63 Castle Street, this year.
Hull Council said it was investing £30m into the network.
It said congestion was made worse by bridges opening at times. It is planning a cycling strategy and working with bus and train operators to make public transport as easy an option as possible.