29 August 2016
3 Mins read

The joy of traffic lights

British drivers spend around 50 hours a year stuck at traffic lights.

Data sourced by insurance company Confused.com found the average motorists waits 48.5 hours at red lights over the course of 12 months of normal driving.

It was concluded the average time spent at stop lights is eight minutes – around 18 per cent of the average time a person spends in a vehicle every day.

There has been a 23 per cent increase in traffic light sets on UK roads since 2013, with over 33,800 lights currently in use on the motoring network.

Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, said: “Red lights are a frustration for many drivers on the road but they are a necessity to keep traffic moving in a timely and orderly fashion. On some days, it can seem these lights are against you and it can feel like the wait is longer than normal.

“With motorists waiting an average of eight minutes a day at traffic lights, this can add up over a year. But the risk of driving through a red light can outweigh the benefits. Rushing through a red light can cause problems for drivers and pedestrians alike. And getting caught, and incurring points, can cause problems for your insurance.”