Congestion worst for over a decade, survey of freight operators suggests

Congestion on UK roads is the worst it has been for over ten years, a Freight Transport Association survey suggests.

According to the FTA's quarterly transport activity survey, there has been a decline in the reliability of the road network to the lowest levels seen since 2002. Karen Dee, FTA's director of policy, commented: "This survey is a clear indication that congestion on our roads has increased again and drivers are getting stuck in traffic on a regular basis.

"The freight and logistics industry needs road infrastructure that it can rely on to ensure that products are moved efficiently and at reasonable cost. As the economy grows there will be increasing demands which will mean more pressure to deliver, and more vehicles on the roads - so it is only going to get worse." The survey shows the industry expects robust growth in road freight activity in the first quarter of 2015.

The FTA has backed the coalition Government's Road Investment Strategy to fix some of the "most notorious" problem areas of the UK road network.