Assessing the Effect of Traffic Congestion on Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption

摘要

This report estimates the part of the UK road transport fuel consumption which is due to traffic congestion. The assessment is based on past surveys of journey speeds in towns, conurbations and Greater London together with data relating fuel consumption to average speed. The estimated potential saving in the use of road transport fuel if traffic congestion could be reduced from peak to off-peak conditions with the same number of vehicle journeys is 1.5 percent. A further saving of 4.6 percent would be achieved if it were possible to reduce off-peak traffic conditions to ideal 'free-flow' traffic conditions with an average traffic speed of 50 km/h. These comparatively small savings reflect the small amount of driving that takes place in congested areas over the whole country. (Copyright (c) Crown Copyright 1980.)