Getting behind the wheel is part of everyday life for millions of drivers in the UK. But with more vehicles on the road and an increase in maintenance works and closures, delays are now all too common. What should be a straightforward half-hour journey can quickly turn into a frustrating crawl through traffic.
At Law Trucks, we understand how much time matters. Whether you're running a fleet, moving goods or simply trying to get from one place to another, every minute counts. That's why we've put together our 2024 Road Delay Report to show which roads in England are slowing people down the most.
Using official government data, we've analysed the average number of seconds vehicles are held up per mile travelled on both local A roads and major routes across the country.
Top Findings
The A5204 in Westminster is the most congested road in England with drivers experiencing delays of 456.1 seconds per vehicle per mile.
The A49 northbound in Shropshire between B4368 and A489 is the most delayed major road with an average wait of 354.9 seconds per vehicle per mile
Top 10 roads in England with the highest delays
|
Area |
Road Name |
Seconds per vehicle per mile |
|
Westminster |
A5204 |
456.1 |
|
Shropshire |
A49 northbound between B4368 near Craven Arms (north) and A489 |
354.9 |
|
Westminster |
A4201 |
324.7 |
|
Shropshire |
A49 southbound between A489 and B4368 near Craven Arms (north) |
319.8 |
|
Wakefield |
A1 southbound within the junction for Darrington between A1(M) J40 and B6474 |
316.9 |
|
Rochdale |
A627(M) northbound between M62 and A664 near Rochdale |
315.6 |
|
Camden |
A4200 |
313.1 |
|
Kensington and Chelsea |
A3217 |
307.9 |
|
Haringey |
A103 |
297.7 |
|
Kensington and Chelsea |
A3216 |
294.4 |
Top 10 local A roads with the most delays in England
|
Area |
Road Name |
Seconds per vehicle per mile |
|
Westminster |
A5204 |
456.1 |
|
Westminster |
A4201 |
324.7 |
|
Camden |
A4200 |
313.1 |
|
Kensington and Chelsea |
A3217 |
307.9 |
|
Haringey |
A103 |
297.7 |
|
Kensington and Chelsea |
A3216 |
294.4 |
|
Westminster |
A302 |
291.9 |
|
Islington |
A401 |
290.3 |
|
Kensington and Chelsea |
A3218 |
280.5 |
|
Camden |
A400 |
274.2 |
Top 10 motorways/major A roads with the most delays
|
Area |
Road Name |
Seconds per vehicle per mile |
|
Shropshire |
A49 northbound between B4368 near Craven Arms (north) and A489 |
354.9 |
|
Shropshire |
A49 southbound between A489 and B4368 near Craven Arms (north) |
319.8 |
|
Wakefield |
A1 southbound within the junction for Darrington between A1(M) J40 and B6474 |
316.9 |
|
Rochdale |
A627(M) northbound between M62 and A664 near Rochdale |
315.6 |
|
West Sussex |
A27 westbound within the A280 junction |
259.8 |
|
Herefordshire |
A49 northbound between B4224 and A4103 |
246.7 |
|
Wakefield |
A1 southbound between A1(M) J40 and B6474 |
233.8 |
|
West Northamptonshire |
A5 northbound between A422/A508 and A43 |
228.5 |
|
Sefton |
connector at M57 J7/M58/A5036/A59 |
225.7 |
|
Sefton |
connector at M57 J7/M58/A5036/A59 |
225.2 |
About the Data
The data comes from GOV.UK and covers the average seconds of delay per vehicle per mile across England's roads in 2024. The figures were split between the Strategic Road Network and local A roads and reviewed separately to highlight the most affected routes in each category.
Why This Matters
Understanding where the worst delays are helps drivers and businesses make better decisions about routes, timing and logistics. Whether you're managing a delivery schedule or planning a longer journey, this insight can help save time and cut costs.
At Law Trucks, we do more than supply commercial vehicles. We keep drivers informed and help you get the most out of every journey.