A MAP has revealed the UK’s busiest and quietest roads – offering a look into traffic density across the country
Using data from the Department for Transport (DfT), the busiest and quietest road networks across the country have been measured – by the number of vehicles travelling per kilometre per hour.
Their key findings show Hounslow, London, recorded the highest traffic density, with 232.2 vehicles per hour per kilometre – almost certainly reflecting its proximity to Heathrow Airport.
This makes it one of the busiest areas for road usage in the country.
Hillingdon, also in London, followed closely with 225.2 vehicles per hour per kilometre, which, again, is largely due to it being close to Heathrow airport and its surrounding road infrastructure.
Thurrock, in the east of England, ranks third with 210.7 vehicles per hour per kilometre, thanks to its location near the M25 and Dartford Crossing.
Cardiff is the busiest area in Wales, ranking fourth with 201.9 vehicles per hour per kilometre – reflecting its role as a major commuter hub.
Other high-ranking areas include Enfield, Salford and additional London boroughs like Kingston upon Thames and Tower Hamlets – with traffic volumes ranging from approximately 200 to 197 vehicles per hour per kilometre.
These urban areas, particularly London boroughs, dominate the rankings due to their dense populations and extensive road networks.
In contrast, the quietest areas include the Isles of Scilly, which recorded the lowest traffic density in the UK with only 4.7 vehicles per hour per kilometre – owing to its small population and limited road network.
The Orkney Islands, with 9.9 vehicles per hour per kilometre, and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, in the Western Isles, having 12.4 vehicles per hour per kilometre, also rank among the least trafficked areas.
Their low ranking highlights minimal road usage typical of remote Scottish island communities.
Curiously, Powys, the largest Welsh county by area, ranks fifth from the bottom with 21.5 vehicles per hour per kilometre – which reflects its vast rural landscape and low population density.
These findings also highlight the importance of understanding traffic density for reasons beyond congestion – which can include environmental impact, road maintenance and accessibility in sparsely populated areas.
Traffic data from the DfT was calculated using the total vehicle kilometres for each local authority and dividing it by the total road length.
This was then broken down into hourly averages to measure vehicles per hour per kilometre, creating a metric to rank local authorities.
Roads near Heathrow Airport are among the busiest in the UK, with thousands of vehicles passing through Hounslow and Hillingdon every hour[/caption]
London boroughs dominate traffic rankings, with six of the top ten busiest areas located in the capital[/caption]
“ondon’s bustling roads see some of the highest vehicle volumes, reflecting the city’s dense population and transport hubs[/caption]
The Isles of Scilly take the crown for the UK’s quietest roads, with just a handful of vehicles passing each kilometre every hour[/caption]
Powys, Wales’ largest county, has some of the quietest roads in the UK, with vast rural landscapes keeping traffic to a minimum[/caption]
