The temporary car insurance experts at Tempcover have carried out extensive research to identify the slowest-moving traffic hotspots across England. The full data breakdown, exploring factors including total time lost to traffic[2] and the longest average delays on local A roads[3], can be viewed here.
Below, we reveal the 10 locations with the slowest-moving A roads across England, based on average speed.
England’s 10 slowest-moving traffic hotspots:
|
Rank |
Area |
Average speed on local ‘A’ roads (miles per hour) |
|
1 |
Reading |
13.0 |
|
2 |
Nottingham |
13.5 |
|
3 |
Southampton |
13.6 |
|
4 |
London |
13.8 |
|
5 |
Plymouth |
15.3 |
|
5 |
Manchester |
15.3 |
|
7 |
Hull |
15.6 |
|
8 |
Leicester |
15.9 |
|
9 |
Liverpool |
16.1 |
|
9 |
Bristol |
16.1 |
Motorists in London face significant congestion with the 4th slowest roads in England, where drivers average just 13.8mph. London also ranked 1st for the longest average delays, with drivers experiencing a 123-second delay per mile[3].
Reading tops the list as the area with the slowest-moving traffic, with vehicles averaging just 13 mph on its A roads. Additionally, Reading also ranked 10th for time lost to traffic, with drivers losing 50 hours annually to congestion[2].
Nottingham faces significant congestion, ranking second for the slowest average speeds on local A roads at 13.5 mph and third for the longest average delays, with drivers experiencing a 103-second delay per mile[3].
Taking third place is Southampton, where drivers average 13.6 mph. For example, a 9.1-mile journey from the M27 to Southampton city centre, primarily along A roads, could take over 40 minutes at these speeds, compared to just 15-20 minutes under normal conditions at faster speeds of 30-40 mph.
Jake Lambert, a temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, highlights the key benefits of car sharing:
“Spending hours stuck in traffic can lead to driver fatigue and reduced concentration. Temporary car insurance offers a practical solution, giving drivers the flexibility to car share and let someone else take the wheel. This helps lighten the load and reduce stress, particularly when facing unexpected congestion.
Adding a trusted friend or family member as a legal driver through temporary car insurance doesn’t just take the pressure off, it also contributes to fewer cars on the road. Whether it’s sharing a long drive with a sibling or stopping safely to swap seats with a friend, it’s a practical way to make travel less stressful and ensure a safer journey to your destination.”
