London is once again the most congested city in the world, topping the list for the second year in a row, new figures show.
The latest INRIX global transport scorecard puts London at the top of the transport league. By 2022, drivers in the capital will lose an average of 156 hours in congestion, traveling at an average speed of just 10 mph.
That’s far more than the 91 hours lost to drivers in Bristol, the UK’s second most congested city, and almost double the UK average of 80 hours last year.
an international issue
In the global traffic scorecard, Chicago narrowly misses out on the top spot in 2022. Drivers in the Windy City spent 155 hours in congestion last year, a 49% increase over 2021.
Paris completed the podium position, with drivers delayed an average of 138 hours in the French capital. This is down 1% from 2021. Like Chicago, drivers in Paris can often only reach speeds of 11 mph on city roads.
Boston, Massachusetts and New York City complete the five most congested cities, with the US accounting for half of the top 10.
Despite its notorious traffic jams, Los Angeles came in at number 14. In 2022, Los Angeles drivers will only spend 95 hours in traffic.
£9.5 billion congestion costs
INRIX noted that while 10 areas of the UK had seen increases in traffic, only London had congestion levels higher than pre-Covid levels.
The overall increase in traffic congestion in 2022 is likely due to an increase in the number of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on UK roads.
LCV traffic has increased by 95% and HGV by 88% compared to pre-pandemic.
UK motorists lose an average of 80 hours to congestion, which INRIX calculates is £707 per driver.
This equates to a total cost to the country of £9.5bn.
The ongoing cost of living crisis has also increased commuters’ fuel costs by 25 per cent.
The top 10 most congested areas in the UK in 2022
| rank | urban area | 2022 delay | city center speed | Cost per city in 2022 |
| 1 | London | 156 hours | 10 mph | £5.7 billion |
| 2 | Bristol | 91 hours | 14 mph | £175 million |
| 3 | manchester | 84 hours | 14 mph | £191 million |
| 4 | birmingham | 73 hours | 16 mph | £346 million |
| 5 | belfast | 72 hours | 16 mph | £102 million |
| 6 | nottingham | 71 hours | 14 mph | £97 million |
| 7 | edinburgh | 67 hours | 16 mph | £150 million |
| 8 | hull | 68 hours | 16 mph | £74 million |
| 9 | Leeds | 60 hours | 16 mph | £196 million |
| 10 | leicester | 62 hours | 16 mph | £92 million |
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