Congestion in Europe differs from region to region, the worst affected countries being those with inter-connected urban areas such as Germany, Belgium, Holland and Britain. But others are also affected, notably in and around towns and specific corridors, while the alpine countries are hit hard by holiday traffic through the Alps.
According to Szabolcs Schmidt from the EU Directorate for Transport and Energy, congestion problems are going to increase as it is estimated that road haulage will have risen by 55 per cent between 2000 and 2020, with no commensurate investment in the infrastructure.
Forty per cent of car journeys are delayed
"Congestion is one of the most serious challenges to European transport policy. Gridlock undermines the efficiency of road transport and costs around one per cent of Europe's GDP," says Schmidt.
He refers to a report from 2004 which shows that on average 40 per cent of car journeys are delayed. Schmidt attributes delays to lack of capacity, roadworks and accidents.
Schmidt contends that in order to solve the problems at EU level, full rail competition should be established, the strategic infrastructure upgraded, and support given to the amelioration of public transport.
Congestion a growing problem for society
Congestion in the Danish capital has not yet reached the proportions seen in other EU capitals but it will not take long. It is now so serious that it represents a huge socio-economic burden which affects the daily lives of most of the population.
"Ours is a mobility society, in which young people's attitude to travel is quite unlike that of older generations," says COWI project manager Erling Hvid, who pioneered a Danish research project which produced the first systematic quantification of congestion.
"They travel longer distances to their jobs, but also to the many leisure activities modern life offers, weekend breaks and visits to friends no matter how far away they live. So it is inevitable that traffic will keep growing."By Christina Tækker, cht@cowi.com Published: 26.04.2007