Its TomTom Traffic Index finds congestion in the country’s 25 worst hit cities and towns increases the time each vehicle spends on the road by an average 127 hours a year – more than 16 working days.
That, says the firm, equates to a cost of £767,937,250 in time spent sitting in traffic for the estimated 902,500 light commercial vehicles operated in those cities and towns.
And Beverley Wise, director UK and Ireland for TomTom Telematics, says this situation is getting worse, pointing to figures that suggest an average journey in 2015 took 29% longer than in free-flowing traffic – up from 25% in 2010.
“Traffic congestion may be seen as a fact of life for every driver but, cumulatively, it is taking a heavy toll on the UK economy and this should not be accepted as an inevitability,” insists Wise.
“Making the most of billable time is key to profitability for any business, so organisations that rely heavily on a mobile workforce must look for ways to maximise the time employees spend actually doing jobs by minimising time on the road.
“Through smarter planning, routing and scheduling, companies can help their drivers to better avoid traffic, which could not only have an impact on productivity but also customer service,” she continues.
“Telematics can help businesses mitigate the effect of traffic congestion and minimise time spent on the road.”