§ 44. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his assessment of the level of congestion and speed of traffic flows on roads in London for which he is responsible; and what equivalent information he has for five and 10 years ago, respectively; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe latest information is for the period 1983 to 1986 when the average speed of traffic on360W trunk roads, in London is estimated to have been 34 kph (21 mph) in the morning peak period, 46 kph (29 mph) in the daytime off-peak period and 37 kph (23 mph) in the evening peak period. A new survey of average traffic speeds on the strategic London road network of trunk and designated roads is now in progress. Results are expected in the late summer.
Equivalent information for five and 10 years ago is riot available, but estimates of traffic speeds on a category of roads called primary roads, as defined in the Greater London development plan, were published by the Greater London council. The GLC's network of primary roads contained a high proportion of roads in common with London's trunk road network prior to 1 April 1986. Results over the requested period are as follows:—
Average traffic speeds on primary roads Kilometres per hour1 Survey period Time of day 1977–79 1980–82 1983–86 Morning peak period (7am-10am) 36.8(23.0) 41.9(26.2) 39.8(24.9) Daytime off-peak period (10am-4pm) 56.8(35.5) 58.1(36.3) 58.4(36.5) Evening peak period (4pm-7pm) 43.5(27.2) 47.7(29.8) 44.2(27.6) 1 Figures in brackets denote speeds in miles per hour.