In a recent study conducted by location technology company TomTom, London has been declared the world’s slowest city for drivers, mainly due to the implementation of 20mph speed limits across its central areas.
The report analyzed data from 387 cities in 55 countries, revealing that a 10km journey in central London took an average of 37 minutes and 20 seconds last year, marking the second consecutive year that the city has topped the list of the slowest cities.
The study sheds light on the impact of speed restrictions on urban mobility, with London’s core city centre experiencing a maximum speed limit of 20mph, significantly lower than the 50mph or higher limits found in many other global cities.
The lack of infrastructure for high-speed driving contributes to the prolonged travel times observed in the British capital. According to the study, the top five slowest cities include Dublin, Toronto, Milan, and Lima.
In the UK itself, Manchester secured the second spot in the ranking, followed by Liverpool, Bristol, and Edinburgh. The findings highlight a broader trend of congestion and reduced driving speeds in major urban centres.
TomTom’s spokesperson commented on the results: “London really is the slowest place in the world to drive a car. Especially in the core city centre, you don’t have maximum speed limits of 50mph or higher; it’s a maximum of 20mph. You don’t have the infrastructure for driving very quickly.”
Responding to the study, London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s spokesperson dismissed the findings as misleading. The spokesperson argued that the analysis only considered a small part of the city centre, not reflecting the driving conditions across the entire metropolis.
Additionally, they emphasized that roadworks are a significant cause of congestion in cities, and the mayor’s infrastructure coordination service is actively working with boroughs and utility companies to minimize delays caused by roadworks.
The spokesperson for Mayor Khan stated, “This study is misleading as it only includes analysis from a very small part of the city centre, not the whole of London”.
“Roadworks are the biggest cause of congestion in cities, which is why the mayor’s infrastructure coordination service is working with boroughs and utility companies to reduce delays caused by roadworks, helping to save London road users over 1,250 days of roadworks since 2019.”
The debate over London’s driving conditions underscores the challenges faced by major cities in balancing the need for efficient transportation with the realities of urban congestion.
As the city grapples with the implications of being labelled the world’s slowest for two consecutive years, discussions are likely to intensify around potential solutions to enhance mobility and alleviate the frustrations of both local and visiting drivers.
Whether changes to speed limits or infrastructure improvements are on the horizon remains to be seen, but the study has undoubtedly sparked a renewed focus on London’s transportation woes.
