Traffic Jams Driving People to Distraction

Overcrowded roads make car drivers late for work, school or appointments on average nearly five times in a typical term-time month, according to a which.co.uk survey.

(PRWEB) September 9, 2006 -- Overcrowded roads make car drivers late for work, school or appointments on average nearly five times in a typical term-time month, according to a which.co.uk survey.

This is despite people already taking measures to dodge queues. Four out of five drivers plan their journeys to avoid congestion and a similar proportion leave earlier or later than they should to avoid jams. A quarter of drivers regularly avoid journeys completely rather than getting stuck in traffic.

It’s clear that traffic congestion is driving people to distraction. which.co.uk asked members of the public what they think the solution is.

Almost half of people surveyed (46 per cent) want to see cheaper public transport; 13 per cent want more to be done to encourage people to walk or cycle; seven per cent are in favour of congestion charging in town centres; while five per cent think road tolls are a good idea.

People were even supportive of some fairly drastic restrictions on car use. Over two thirds (69 per cent) favour banning the school run. Parents taking their children to school accounts for about 20 per cent of term time traffic congestion.

A quarter of people want a limit of one car per household; a third want to ban 4x4 cars at peak time, despite the fact that they don’t take up more road space than other cars; a quarter support the idea that people who drive with no passengers at peak times should pay a charge.

which.co.uk also investigates satellite navigation (sat-nav) systems as a possible solution to congestion. They are already used by 12 per cent of drivers and this number is set to rise significantly.

Sat-nav works best when there is an exceptional hold-up, such as an accident or road works, which.co.uk found. Five systems, costing from £270 - £900, merited Best Buy status.

Although these systems can help avoid queues, they aren’t magic and can’t banish jams. On some roads congestion is so endemic that the systems are not alerted. And sometimes there is no reasonable alternative route available.

Malcolm Coles, editor, which.co.uk, says, “It’s clear there’s no quick fix to the problems of traffic congestion. People in our survey think better and cheaper public transport is the answer. Only a few think road charging is the solution.”

To see more about sat-nav systems, go to www.which.co.uk/sat-nav

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