UK roads are 10th most congested in the world – with 31-hour a year delays costing Brits over £1,000 each
Figures reveal the worst countries and cities in the world for rush hour traffic - and it's not good news for UK motorists
TRAFFIC in the UK is the 10th worst in the world with Brits stuck in jams for an average of 31 hours a year.
Rush hour congestion costs the average motorist £1,168 in wasted fuel and time, according to traffic experts Inrix.
Thailand was rated as the worst with drivers stuck for 56 hours a year, followed by Indonesia, Colombia and Venezuela.
London was the British city with the longest hold-ups, with drivers stationary for 74 hours every year - up 60 minutes on last year.
That makes the capital the second most congested city in Europe - behind only Moscow.
The worst stretch of road was the A406 outer London ringroad from Chiswick Roundabout to Hanger Lane during the evening rush hour.
Manchester, Birmingham and Lincoln were the next busiest places for motorists.
Seven UK locations suffered double-digit rises in the number of hours lost to queues, including Wrexham (up 17 per cent), Mansfield (up 15 per cent) and Bath (up 12 per cent).
However, three big Scottish cities saw huge improvements in traffic, with congestion down 20 per cent in Aberdeen, 15 per cent in Glasgow and ten per cent in Edinburgh following completion of major road projects.
The most congested city in the world was Los Angeles with New York and San Francisco also featuring in the top 10.
Inrix chief economist Dr Graham Cookson said: "The cost of congestion is astonishing.
"It takes billions out of the economy and impacts businesses and individuals.
"The average figure for London is £2,430. That's many times more than what it costs me to insure my car and the cost of the fuel I put in it."
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Dr Cookson said new schemes were needed to fix the congestion problem such as increased flexible working or even unpopular road charges.
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "The Government is taking the big decisions for Britain's future, underlined by our record £23 billion for road schemes - the biggest investment in a generation.
"This will help cut congestion, shorten journey times, and boost economic growth."