Coronavirus concerns could see traffic surge
There could be more than a million extra cars on the road as a result of Covid-19.
Research has found that fears over catching the virus coupled with the restrictions to public transport could result in a surge in private travel.
The research was undertaken by the Active Travel Academy (ATA), a group based at Westminster University. It found that traffic could increase by seven per cent during rush hour alone.
Backing up this research, National Rail estimates that its capacity is 10-13% of normal levels, while Transport for London capacity is down to 15% of normal.
According to the RAC foundation, 15.3m people across England and Wales drive to work every day. In rural areas 73% of people drive to work, with 67% of people driving to work in cities outside of London.
Even in London, where ATA estimates car use could rise by 22%, driving is the most common form of commuting with 30% using their own vehicles.
