London named Europe’s most congested city prompts London Assembly to launch road space inquiry
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
London has been ranked the most congested city in Europe, according to INRIX’s 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard. The report estimates that gridlock in the capital cost drivers a combined £3.85 billion last year, equating to an average of £942 per driver.
The study found that London accounted for around half of all UK traffic on an average day. Cars and taxis made up 76 per cent of motor vehicle miles in the capital during 2024, with light commercial vehicles representing 16 per cent and heavy goods vehicles just 3 per cent.
The figures have renewed focus on how London’s road space is being managed. The London Assembly Transport Committee has opened an inquiry into congestion and the way the city’s roads are used, seeking to understand both the causes and the wider impacts.
Key questions being considered include how congestion affects Londoners and the public transport network, why so many continue to drive despite alternative modes, and how Transport for London (TfL) evaluates road layouts before introducing new schemes. The inquiry is also looking into whether any particular group of road users is being disproportionately affected by current road configurations or policies.
Expert witnesses appearing before the Committee included David Metz, Honorary Professor at the UCL Centre for Transport Studies; Jon Parker, Managing Director of Jon Parker Consultancy; Antoneta Horbury, Director of Policy and Technical Affairs at the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation; and Clare Sheffield, Director of Transport Planning at Arup.
Their evidence will help inform future recommendations on how London can balance road use between private vehicles, public transport, and active travel. With congestion levels showing little sign of easing, the findings could play a key role in shaping policy across the next mayoral term.
