4:28pm UK, Tuesday August 27, 2002

Road traffic in London is moving at its slowest pace ever.

A new report found average speeds on key London roads were just 2.9mph, less than walking pace.

The survey blamed an "unprecedented wave of roadworks" and traffic-light rephasing for the reduction in speeds.

sp transport traffic road cars central London

London rush hour

But the Greater London Authority, which is responsible for the capital's transport, cast doubt on the survey, carried out by London's Evening Standard newspaper in conjunction with the RAC.

Rush-hour

Derek Turner, in charge of street management, said the routes measured around congested areas were too short, giving a picture which bore little resemblance to actual journeys made.

"Obviously on the approaches to the particular hotspots you do get slower journey times," Mr Turner said.

He said the authority conducted its own surveys in central London every two months.

The latest, he said, showed morning rush-hour speeds averaged 8mph and an evening peak-hour mean of 8-9mph.

Stroll

The Evening Standard's survey was carried out by driving measured routes twice in each direction.

It was done during off-peak hours in the middle of summer, when traffic levels are lower than usual as commuters leave the city on holiday.

The paper claimed the driver of its survey vehicle watched a passenger of a van in front get out to buy a meal from a nearby fast food restaurant and stroll back before the van had moved 20 metres.