The report, based on existing traffic models, shows that core London routes will slow to an average speed of 12mph during July and August. The opening ceremony of the event even clashes with the busiest holiday getaway day of the year, July 27th, when traffic levels are already 30% higher.

In addition the first event after the ceremony is the Men’s Road Cycling Race which is scheduled to close roads in South West London and Surrey.

Bedford Road in Clapham, London is congested for more than 13 hours a day making it the worst road in Britain for traffic jams. The top 25 worst roads all suffered from at least 12 hours of congestion a day.

Unsurprisingly the M25 tops the list, prone to congestion and just being a boring road to drive on. The M6 in Birmingham and A1 in London came a close second and third. The three most common issues that were given for nominating a road as dull were speed cameras, congestion and potholes. 65% of drivers stated that driving had become more stressful in the last two years

Compared to the same quarter in 2008, the statistics have the following highlights:

• Car traffic increased by 1 per cent.
• Light van traffic increased by 3 per cent.
• Heavy goods vehicle traffic decreased by 7 per cent.
• Traffic on motorways increased by 1 per cent.
• Traffic on rural ‘A’ roads increased by 1 per cent.
• Traffic on urban ‘A’ roads increased by 1 per cent.
• Traffic on minor rural roads was unchanged.
• Traffic on minor urban roads decreased by 1 per cent.

Boris Johnson was hopeful that the Government would recoup the fines from America when they changed their London ambassador. The US still refuses to pay for the fine, saying that it is a tax which is ignored under certain diplomatic treaties. The US is not alone in their congestion charge debt. Russia owes £2.6 million, Japan £2.3 million. British officials in the states still have to pay their road tolls.