Hampshire named among 'the most congested' places in the country in survey
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Hampshire was named third in the study by traffic plan software Traffic Chart, Hampshire has ranked third in the UK’s most traffic-congested areas behind Surrey was named as number one and Essex which came in second.
The research analysed government data from 2023 that measured the total vehicle traffic miles, the number of licensed vehicles, and the annual average daily traffic flow in each local authority area.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSurrey had an index score of 88.70 out of 100 recording a staggering distance of 8.448 billion miles travelled by vehicles in 2023, with over 802,000 registered vehicles contributing to the congestion. Essex had an index score of 84.26, piling up to 9.686 billion miles in traffic and more than one million licensed vehicles.


Hampshire had a score of 82.93, with vehicles collectively travelling over a 9.472 billion miles in 2023. With more than 1.14 million licensed vehicles and an annual average daily flow of 4,601, this cemented its position as one of the UK’s most gridlocked regions.
Martijn Hulshof, founder of Traffic Chart, emphasized the challenges posed by congestion, especially with many commuters using busy routes such as the A3.
He said: “These counties are known for their high levels of commuter traffic, as they serve as vital links between London and the neighbouring suburbs where many professionals live.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“While there is no way to completely avoid traffic, there are ways to prepare yourself. You can do this by allowing plenty of time for travel, being aware of traffic reports, and if necessary, planning around expected congestion.”
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.