Traffic jams are worse than ever, says AA report

MOTORING

Traffic jams have grown steadily worse this year, with drivers in the South-east and Midlands bearing the brunt of the congestion, an AA report said yesterday.

The worst month for gridlock in the first half of the year was June, when the wet weather was a major factor. Nearly half of the accidents which led to the worst of the delays in the six-month period from January to June happened in the morning rush-hour.

Car Free Day on Tuesday 17 June - when drivers were urged to leave their vehicles at home - proved a flop, with 10 per cent more congestion incidents recorded than normal.

AA Roadwatch logged more than 173,000 jams and hold-ups in the first six months of 1997. The most clogged road was the M42 at junction two in Hereford and Worcester on 10 March, when a multi-vehicle accident led to 28 hours of delays. Randeep Ramesh