RAC reacts to Inrix report showing how long drivers spend stuck in traffic

Commenting on a new report by traffic data company Inrix that shows drivers spent on average 31 hours stuck in traffic in 2017, RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said:

"These figures bring into sharp focus a reality suffered by commuters up and down the UK every year - that in some areas our roads are struggling to cope under the sheer weight of traffic. Not only is this bad news for the economy, it's also bad for air quality and indeed drivers' own wellbeing.

"Nearly three-quarters (74%) of motorists we spoke to for the annual Report on Motoring told us that they would find it very difficult to adjust their lifestyle without a car; 63% said that they would use their car less if public transport was better. This highlights the uncomfortable truth in the UK - that with few viable transport alternatives outside major cities, having access to a car is simply a necessity for millions of people.

"There is no silver bullet to sorting out congestion. Ring-fenced funding for improving England's major roads from 2021 should help, but there also needs to be an emphasis placed on providing cheap, practical, reliable alternatives to the car - especially in urban areas. In the meantime urban planners should be looking at how we can maximise vehicle flow - looking at traffic light sequencing, reducing the amount of time roadworks are live on roads and seeing what impact reducing road space for vehicles is having on journey times. Employers and individuals can also do their bit by encouraging greater car sharing."