3.4 Metrics relating to the availability of the motorway network have shown little change over the last five years. Rises in population and an increase in the vehicle stock have been offset by increased capacity on the network. The volume of traffic using the motorways increased between 2005 and 2007 but has since fallen away as traffic levels reduced following the recession. Traffic on the motorway network was one per cent higher in 2010 than it was in 2005.
3.5 Related to these reductions in traffic, service quality and reliability on the major road network has improved in recent years. The average delay experienced on the slowest motorway and trunk A road journeys fell by around four per cent between 2005 and 2010 and continued to fall further into 2011. In addition, on locally managed A roads, the average speed achieved during the morning peak is now around two per cent faster than in 2007.
3.6 Recent improvements have also been seen in relation to the condition of the major road network in the UK, the emissions efficiency of road vehicles and on road safety, where the fatality rate amongst reported road accidents has fallen over 40 per cent since 2005. International comparisons of road safety show the UK's roads are currently regarded to be amongst the safest in Europe.
3.7 Alongside these increases in network performance, the cost of improving and maintaining the network has also increased, particularly when there have been major investments in the strategic road network.
3.8 Despite recent improvements, congestion is still a significant issue in the UK – particularly in and around the major cities - and in the longer term it is likely that the UK will see significant growth in the levels of congestion as the economy recovers and pressure on the road network increases.
3.9 The Eddington study estimated that by 2025 the additional cost of congestion compared to 2003 would be £12 billion per annum (in 2002 prices) for business and £24 billion for all road users.1 The figure for all road users represents more than doubling of the 2003 figure of £16.5 billion.
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