Exeter among UK’s most congested cities with drivers stuck 56 hours a year

Exeter has emerged as one of the most congested cities in the UK, with drivers spending an extra 56 hours a year stuck in rush-hour traffic.

The findings come from TomTom’s latest traffic index, which ranks cities worldwide based on congestion levels.

Analysis of the data shows Exeter is roughly the 10th most congested location in the UK, with the Yorkshire city of Hull ranked first.

During the morning rush hour, it takes an average of 19 minutes to travel just 6.2 miles in Exeter, compared with around 12 and a half minutes on a clear run, at an average speed of 31.6 km/h (around 20 mph). 

Evening rush-hour times are similar, meaning commuters are spending more than six minutes extra on each six-mile trip.

Overall, this marks an increase of three hours and ten minutes compared with 2023.

TomTom’s congestion metric shows traffic in Exeter is 63 per cent slower than free-flow speeds, highlighting how packed the city’s roads become during peak periods.

By comparison, nearby Plymouth fares slightly better. A 6.2-mile journey there takes 21 minutes in the morning, around eight and a half minutes longer than a clear run,  but its congestion level is lower at 51 per cent.

While Plymouth drivers spend slightly more time in the car, Exeter’s roads are more heavily congested, meaning traffic feels stop-start for much of the journey.

Globally, Exeter’s congestion is also notable. 

While Mexico City tops the world list, with a 6.2-mile journey taking 32 minutes during rush hour, and Bangkok seeing the same distance take 22 minutes, Exeter ranks 78th worldwide, placing it among the most congested cities in the UK despite its smaller size.

Within the UK, Hull tops the congestion rankings, followed by London and Birmingham.

For commuters, the extra time adds up. TomTom calculates that Exeter drivers lose 56 hours a year stuck in rush-hour traffic, equivalent to more than two full days behind the wheel.

The RAC said Exeter’s congestion is particularly pronounced on Wednesdays, a day when more workers head to the office as part of post-Covid hybrid-working patterns.

It said the city’s constrained road network, combined with its large travel-to-work population, creates severe pressure on its roads.

Despite the challenges, the RAC said Exeter has seen a 4.4 per cent increase in passengers across the south-west year-on-year, indicating a positive trend in public transport usage.

Bus operator Stagecoach South West said many services in Exeter are affected by variable levels of congestion, particularly around major city-centre junctions.

In a statement, the company said congestion and roadworks create delays, drive up operating costs and place significant pressure on timetables, making buses less attractive and pushing more journeys back into private cars.

Peter Knight, Managing Director at Stagecoach South West, said: “Congestion is one of the biggest challenges facing bus operations in Exeter. It affects reliability for customers, increases costs for operators and ultimately puts pressure on the long-term sustainability of the bus network. If we are serious about improving public transport and encouraging people out of their cars, congestion must be tackled in a coordinated and realistic way.”

Stagecoach South West said it is actively reviewing all Exeter city timetables ahead of its next service change in April to ensure they better reflect current traffic conditions.

The company said it is also investing in improvements to the Stagecoach Bus app, including enhanced journey planning tools, personalised disruption alerts and simpler ways for customers to make contact, aimed at improving the customer experience despite challenging conditions.

Stagecoach said it is proud to be part of the Devon Bus Enhanced Partnership, which was recently awarded Silver for Partnership for Excellence at the UK Bus Awards, highlighting the value of collaboration between local authorities, operators and community transport providers.

Looking ahead, Stagecoach and Devon County Council said they are investing £29.3 million in the future of Devon’s transport, including new electric buses for Exeter from early 2026 and the installation of 10 electric chargers at the company’s depot.

Stagecoach said addressing congestion will be essential to fully realise the benefits of those investments and support progress towards a cleaner, more sustainable transport system.

Footage captured by Exeter Today reporter, Caitlin Taylor