Roads busier than ever as we clock up 319bn miles a year

THE country’s roads are more congested than ever, Government figures revealed yesterday.

British motorists clock up more than 600,000 miles every minute – adding up to 319.3billion miles over the past year.

It is up by more than 5 per cent on five years ago, and the highest level since records began.

Lower fuel prices and the improving economy are causing Britons to ditch public transport and use their cars more often, according to the Department for Transport.

But campaigners said the figures highlighted the misery endured by millions forced to spend more of their lives stuck in traffic.

FairFuelUK said successive governments have contributed to the chronic traffic problem by failing to invest enough in building roads and improving existing routes.

The number of miles driven by motorists in the 12 months to June was up by 1.5 per cent on the previous year. Car and taxi traffic increased by 1.1 per cent to a record 249.2billion miles – 1billion more than before the financial crisis hit in 2008.

But the biggest increase was from vans and lorries, which notched up 3.7 per cent and 3.8 per cent more miles respectively.

Howard Cox, of FairFuelUK, said: ‘Despite the highest level of taxation on drivers in Europe, the lack of investment in road infrastructure continues to frustrate every UK driver stuck in a traffic jam.’

Motorways and rural main roads became more congested, although traffic fell on urban main roads.

Experts say congestion has been worsened by a surge in families holidaying in the UK this summer as the pound’s value falls. AA research has shown more than half of motorists have had summer trips delayed by heavy traffic.

The Government has promised to invest £23billion in improving roads – including £15billion on a five-year strategy to fund projects on motorways and major A-roads, and build 1,300 extra lane miles.

Councils are also being given £6billion for road maintenance, including repairing potholes.

But Bridget Fox, from the Campaign For Better Transport, said that investment was needed to improve public transport rather than build roads.

She said: ‘We need action from Government to invest in better public transport, walking and cycling routes and get more freight traffic off our overcrowded roads and on to rail.

‘That will give people real choice in how they travel, and liberate communities from the damaging effects of ever growing traffic levels.’

Ian Crowder, of the AA, said: ‘The figures show that our roads are becoming increasingly congested and it’s important that improvements are made to the network to improve traffic flows.’

The Department for Transport said the figures were ‘good news for British industry and our economy as a whole’ as roads ‘create jobs and open up opportunities’.