Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 3:57 am Post subject: Up to Speed: Road congestion figures show fall
Quote:
Defying every driver’s perception of worsening traffic conditions, a survey has shown that road congestion is actually easing.
Trafficmaster, which monitors traffic flow across the UK, has recorded an average 3% reduction in congestion levels between 2004 and 2005. The biggest drop was on notoriously busy sections of the M1 in the East Midlands, where congestion dropped by 5%.
The fall coincides with a 20% increase in the price of fuel from an average of £3.62 per gallon in January to £4.35 in September. “High fuel prices will have had an impact,” said Paul Watters of the AA Motoring Trust. “Some people may have switched to public transport or cut unnecessary journeys. It could also reflect a downturn in the economy.”
Another factor is a fall in new car sales, down by 3.2% last month to their lowest level in five years, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Motoring groups say the government’s plans to introduce road pricing should now be shelved as motorists are already being deterred from non-essential journeys.
Congestion remained particularly high in the southeast and the West Midlands, however. On the M6 in Birmingham congestion increased by 75% in October following a price rise on the new M6 toll road from £3 to £3.50 in the summer.
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