Traffic on England's motorways and major A roads averaged 56.7 mph in the year to June 2026
Average speed of traffic, a measure of congestion: the slower the traffic, the more congested the roads. Motorways and major A roads run by National Highways, across all hours of the day, over the last 12 months and each month, England, April 2015 to June 2026. Miles per hour.
Latest figures
| Series | Period | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Average over the last 12 months | Year to June 2026 | 56.7 mph |
| Each month | June 2026 | 56.9 mph |
Notes
- The Department for Transport publishes average speed as a measure of congestion on these roads: when they are busier, traffic moves more slowly. Speeds also change with roadworks, weather and speed limits.
- These roads, the Strategic Road Network, are England's motorways and the major A roads that National Highways runs. Other A roads, run by councils, are not included.
- The average speed comes from National Highways' traffic information service, which monitors journey times on these roads, and covers all 24 hours of every day.
- Speeds go up and down with the seasons, so the 12-month average is the better guide to change over time. It starts in March 2016, the first month with 12 months of figures.
- Traffic was much lighter during the COVID-19 lockdowns from March 2020, and speeds were higher.
Sources
More on transport
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