Government performance on roads slammed

• Increase image
• View all images

The Department for Transport has come under fire after its annual statistics report revealed traffic to have increased by 14% since 1997 and delays by 7% since 2004.

"Eleven years of a Labour Government has led to a comprehensive catalogue of road policy failures," said Liberal Democrat shadow transport secretary Norman Baker.

"Despite John Prescott's claim in 1997 that a Labour Government would cut the number of cars on the roads, it has now given up on reducing traffic and has resorted to discredited 1980s road-building policies."

Speaking in 1997, John Prescott said: "I will have failed if in five years' time there are not many more people using public transport and far fewer journeys by car. It's a tall order but I urge you to hold me to it."

The report shows:

- Traffic has increased 14% since 1997
- 54% of cars break the speed limit on motorways
- HGVs have increased 9.4% since 1997
- 82% of HGVs break the 50 mph speed limit on non-built up dual carriageways
- There is now 7,000 km more road than there was in 1997
- The average delay on the slowest 10% of journeys has risen 4.4% since 2005
- The average delay on all journeys has risen 7% since 2004 
 
Baker added: "Just last week Ruth Kelly announced yet another £6bn to widen motorways. This is an abdication of responsibility."