2005 - Gridlock?

Congestion in towns and cities is a serious issue for a majority of people, and congestion on motorways is a serious problem for nearly a third of people* and the situation is getting worse, according to the RAC Foundation looking back at transport policy in 2004 today.

With average traffic speeds falling on all types of roads and at all times of the day, road traffic increasing and congestion costing the economy some £20 billion a year, the RAC Foundation is today calling on the Government to commit to long-term investment in the roads infrastructure in 2005 in order to avoid total gridlock.

Recent transport trends** show that:

• Average traffic speeds fell by 7% between 1995 and 2003 in the evening peak period.
• Road traffic has grown by 79% since 1980.
• The proportion of trips made by car has increased from 57% in 1989/91 to 64% in 2002/03.
• Travel by car rose from 388 billion passenger kilometres in 1980 to 678 billion in 2003 – an increase of 75%.
• Travel by car now accounts for 62% of time spent travelling.
• 71% of trips to work were made by car in 2002/03 compared with 66% in 1989/91.
• 92% of all passenger travel is by road whilst 6.5% is by rail.

Road traffic has grown by 79% since 1980, while the total length of roads increased by only 10% in the same period. Two years ago, in "Motoring Towards 2050", the RAC Foundation predicted that there would be a further 50% increase in traffic by 2031 but the Foundation is increasingly concerned by the government's apparent lack of solution to increasing traffic levels on Britain's roads. Simply relying on congestion to control traffic growth would be economically damaging to the country.

The RAC Foundation identified a list of urgently needed improvements to the strategic road network in a report this year.*** To keep to a reasonable and manageable programme the list is confined to those that the Foundation believes are crucial to effective operation of the network. At a cost of around £2bn a year over 10 years the programme would provide very good value for money. Road users currently pay £42 billion per year of which less than £6 billion is spent on roads. These improvements could all be paid for out of half of one year's motoring taxation.

The Foundation has concentrated on the strategic network - motorways and trunk roads - because, even though it accounts for only about 4% of the network, it carries around 35% of traffic, including more than half of all road freight movements. This is the core of the national transport system.

The RAC Foundation is also keen to see the implementation of the Road Safety Bill in 2005, including more effective targeting of uninsured drivers, increased penalties for drivers using hand-held mobile phones, and compulsory re-testing for drivers following a second drink drive conviction. The measures in the Bill take account of several years of RAC Foundation campaigning on road safety issues. The RAC Foundation would also like to see the national roll-out of speed awareness courses.

Edmund King, Executive Director of the RAC Foundation said:

"It is extremely worrying that there has been little commitment from the Government in 2004 to improving the nation's roads, despite increasing congestion, falling traffic speeds and rising traffic levels. Government must act urgently if it is to avoid gridlock in 2005. Congestion is already a serious issue for a majority of people across the country.

"Initiatives such as car-sharing schemes and High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes should be encouraged, However, these measures should not replace proper investment into the roads infrastructure.

"Road users currently pay £42 billion a year of which less than £6 billion is spent on roads. We claim to be the fourth largest economy in the world so surely we can afford a decent road system to support economic growth.

"The Road Safety Bill is a welcome initiative for cracking down on the minority of motorists who are a menace on the roads. The majority of motorists will welcome measures which target dangerous drivers, drink drivers and uninsured drivers. The successful implementation of the Bill will mean a safer 2005 for motorists."