Scotland’s two biggest cities are in the top three of those facing the worst financial hit from traffic jams.
Time wasted in the UK’s worst traffic jams will cost motorists ÂŁ62 billion by 2025, according to a study — and Edinburgh and Glasgow sit second and third in the table of those cities facing the biggest challenges.
Transport information company Inrix identified more than 20,000 congestion pinch points in 21 cities across the country.
Analysis of the average duration, length and frequency of the hold-ups in September found that the impact of traffic hotspots will cost London drivers ÂŁ42 billion over the next decade.
The report said the capital’s worst section of road for congestion is the M25 northbound between junctions 15 and 16, near Heathrow Airport.
Edinburgh was in second place at ÂŁ2.8 billion, followed by Glasgow (ÂŁ2.3 billion), Birmingham (ÂŁ2 billion) and Manchester (ÂŁ1.9 billion).
The estimated ÂŁ62 billion cost to drivers of hours wasted in queues was calculated using value of travel time figures from a Department for Transport-commissioned report.
This was more than any other country in Europe, with Germany the next closest at ÂŁ42 billion and Italy third at ÂŁ19 billion.
In last week’s Autumn Statement, the Government pledged to spend ÂŁ220 million to tackle congestion on England’s motorways and major A roads.
Inrix’s chief economist Graham Cookson said identifying where delays are having the biggest impact can allow for the most efficient use of investment.
He told the Press Association: “Let’s make sure we focus spending on those worst-hit hotspots because, given the amount of money, we want to get the most benefit out of it.”
The 10 UK cities with the worst impact from traffic jams, according to Inrix (cost of congestion by 2025 in brackets followed by worst hotspot):
- London (ÂŁ42 billion) M25 northbound between junctions 15 and 16
- Edinburgh (ÂŁ2.8 billion) A720 westbound Edinburgh Bypass at Dreghorn Barracks
- Glasgow (ÂŁ2.3 billion) Eastbound junction of the A8 Glasgow and Edinburgh Road with the M8
- Birmingham (ÂŁ2 billion) Northbound junction of the A38 (M) with the M6
- Manchester (ÂŁ1.9 billion) M60 northbound at junction 1 for the A6 Stockport
- Bristol (ÂŁ1.6 billion) M5 southbound at junction 20 for Clevedon
- Leeds (ÂŁ1.5 billion) Westbound M62 junction 26 with M606 junction 1
- Cardiff (ÂŁ1.1 billion) A48 westbound at Riverside Park
- Bradford (ÂŁ1.1 billion) From the A650 in the city centre to the A6038 Otley Road
- Belfast (ÂŁ797 million) A12 eastbound at the junction with the M2 and M3