The world’s slowest city centre for drivers revealed

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London has the world’s slowest city centre for drivers due to widespread 20mph pace limits, in line with new evaluation.

Journeys of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) in central London took a median of 37 minutes and 20 seconds final 12 months, location expertise firm TomTom stated.

This was one minute greater than in 2022 and was the longest time among the many 387 cities throughout 55 nations analysed, placing London prime of the gradual city centre rating for the second 12 months in a row.

In second spot was Irish capital Dublin, with 10km journeys sometimes taking 29 minutes and 30 seconds.

It was adopted by Toronto, Canada (29 minutes); Milan, Italy (28 minutes and 50 seconds); and Lima, Peru (28 minutes and 30 seconds).

In the UK, Manchester was ranked second (23 minutes and 30 seconds), adopted by Liverpool (22 minutes and 50 seconds), Bristol (22 minutes and 40 seconds) and Edinburgh (21 minutes and 30 seconds).

Travel occasions elevated final 12 months in 21 of the 25 UK cities analysed.

TomTom based mostly its evaluation on journeys in a 5km radius of city centres.

The firm’s head of presidency and regulatory affairs, Stephanie Leonard, stated: “London really is the slowest place in the world to drive a car.

“Especially in the core city centre, you don’t have maximum speed limits of 50mph or higher, it’s a maximum of 20mph.

“You don’t have the infrastructure for driving very quickly.”

Transport for London (TfL) lowered pace limits to 20mph on an additional 65km (40.4 miles) of roads within the south of the capital in the course of the ultimate 4 months of final 12 months.

When the measure was introduced in September, the transport physique stated it will deliver the whole size of roads with a 20mph restrict to 140km (87 miles), making them “safer for everyone”.

In October final 12 months, the Government revealed a Plan for Drivers which included an intention to curb the usage of these limits.

It said: “We will make it clear that 20mph speed limits in England must be used appropriately where people want them – not as unwarranted blanket measures.”

This got here a month after Wales grew to become the primary nation within the UK to drop the default pace restrict from 30mph to 20mph on residential roads and people generally utilized by pedestrians.

TomTom discovered that in addition to London’s city centre roads being the world’s slowest when site visitors is flowing freely, they’re additionally the place motorists lose essentially the most time attributable to congestion.

The examine additionally famous that London had the world’s third highest gasoline costs final 12 months.

Ms Leonard stated: “Our analysis of the economic impact of congestion showed that London’s slow-moving traffic and higher fuel consumption made it one of the most expensive cities in the world for driving.

“Avoiding peak hours could save Londoners up to £187 per year on fuel costs.

“At the same time, local authorities must put support behind programmes that encourage cycling, public transport and other modes to take a larger share in transportation.”

TfL and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan have been approached for a remark.