Journey times up to three times longer during term time

12 December 2006 15:00 GMT / By Jonathan Goddard

The real impact of school-run mums on traffic congestion has been revealed today.

Analysis from Trafficmaster shows that average journey times in some areas of the UK are up to three times longer during term times than during school holidays.

The two-mile southbound stretch of the A629 near Bradford, West Yorkshire, was worst affected: the average journey time between 8.30am and 9.15am is just 11 minutes, compared to 28 minutes the rest of the year.

Other affected areas include the eastbound A40 near Cheltenham (133% journey time increase in term time), the northbound A339 in Newbury (131% increase) and the eastbound A428 in Bedford (120% increase). The A45 near Northampton, A10 at Ely, A50 Stoke, A69 Newcastle, A49 Hereford and the A41 Aylesbury completed the top ten.

A spokesman for Trafficmaster said: “Overall, four-fifths of all our travel in Britain is by car, with average journeys being just 6 miles. School holidays reduce traffic on our roads by approximately 10%, from a combination of parents taking holidays and not driving their children to school, but the effects vary widely".

Ignoring the problem that most morning car commuters have no choice but to drive along certain routes at certain times, he concluded: “It’s critical for other drivers to understand the local effects of this and avoid congested areas where possible, so as not to add to the problem. Knowing when and how your route will be affected and what alternatives there are could also save you significant time, money and frustration from getting caught in jams".

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Car And GPS, Cars, Surveys, Trafficmaster, Dad