What is the worst day of the week to drive?
Tuesday
Tuesday is the slowest day to drive on England’s motorways and major A roads.
7 questions · measured, not estimated
Traffic questions, answered with measured data
Each answer comes from National Highways roadside sensors or Department for Transport counts, with the evidence and method on its page.
The questions
Is the morning or evening rush hour worse?
The morning
The morning rush hour is worse on most roads that have a clear rush hour at both ends of the day.
How much time do you save by driving at a quieter hour?
1.6 minutes
On the typical road, a 20-mile weekday morning drive takes 1.6 minutes less at the quietest hour between 06:00 and 10:00 than at the slowest.
What is the busiest motorway in England?
The M25
The M25 is the busiest motorway in England that we measure: a typical stretch carries about 144,000 vehicles a day in both directions, and its busiest stretch about 213,000.
Which motorway has the most lorries?
The M180
The M180 has the highest share of lorries: about 25% of its traffic is heavy goods vehicles, against 9% on the typical motorway we measure.
Is traffic worse on a Friday afternoon?
Yes
Yes.
Are motorways quieter at weekends?
Yes, with a midday peak
Yes.