LONDON is the world’s slowest city for driving — because of 20mph speed limits, analysis shows.
Journeys of 10km in the centre of the capital typically took 37 minutes and 20 seconds last year.
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It was one minute worse than in 2022 and made it the slowest among 387 cities tested.
Dublin, where 10km trips took 29 minutes and 30 seconds, was second.
It was followed by Toronto, Milan and Lima in the analysis from satnav brand TomTom.
Manchester ranked second slowest in the UK, followed by Liverpool, Bristol and Edinburgh.
Transport for London has now implemented 20mph limits to 140km of roads across the capital.
When the measure was announced in September, the transport body said it would bring the total length of roads with a 20mph limit to 140km (87 miles), making them “safer for everyone”.
In October last year, the Government published a Plan for Drivers which included an intention to curb the use of those limits.
It stated: “We will make it clear that 20mph speed limits in England must be used appropriately where people want them – not as unwarranted blanket measures.”
This came a month after Wales became the first country in the UK to drop the default speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on residential roads and those commonly used by pedestrians.
TomTom found that as well as London’s city centre roads being the world’s slowest when traffic is flowing freely, they are also where motorists lose the most time due to congestion.
The study also noted that London had the world’s third highest fuel prices last year.
Ms Leonard said: “Our analysis of the economic impact of congestion showed that London’s slow-moving traffic and higher fuel consumption made it one of the most expensive cities in the world for driving.
“Avoiding peak hours could save Londoners up to £187 per year on fuel costs.
“At the same time, local authorities must put support behind programmes that encourage cycling, public transport and other modes to take a larger share in transportation.”
She added: “There isn’t the infrastructure for driving quickly.”
TfL and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan were approached for a comment.
