London traffic slows to a stroll

Average speeds on key London roads have plunged to their lowest level ever - 2.9mph, a survey reveals today.

Thousands of drivers are now forced to travel at less than walking pace, with speeds on some roads as low as 1.6mph.

Motoring organisations blame the damaging crawl on multiple, uncoordinated roadworks which have closed major roads and reduced the flow of traffic on dozens of others.

The RAC Foundation blamed planners for interfering with vital junctions and also attacked traffic light rephasing by the Mayor's office for making it all but impossible to drive across parts of London. The survey, by the Evening Standard, shows that on six key routes average off-peak daytime speeds ranged from only 1.6mph, at Haymarket, to a high of 4.1mph at High Holborn.

Transport experts warn that with the launch of congestion charging next year, the worst is still to come.