Ongoing strike action across Britain’s public transport network has been pushing more people onto the roads in recent weeks. As Britain has been plunged into chaos by rail, tube and bus workers going on strike, this has led to increasing numbers of breakdowns on the roads, as commuters have been forced to use their cars.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Network Rail and 14 train operators have been striking in a dispute over pay, pensions, jobs and working conditions. The last scheduled walkouts of rail workers took place between the 18th and 20th of August.
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On 19th August, they were joined by Tube workers and bus drivers, who had organised a similar day of action in support of rail employees. Union bosses have warned more strikes will follow if they don't receive an adequate response from the government and transport firms.
Surge in traffic
Motoring organisations have reported a "huge surge" in traffic on the roads this summer, not only among commuters, but also by people travelling to major leisure events. The strike action began on 21st June, causing problems for people going to Glastonbury Festival and Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The AA says the worst affected roads have been the major motorways, although suburban and rural areas have had more traffic too. In Scotland, the M74, A9 and M8 suffered "severe" traffic, as did the A55, M4, A5 and A483 in Wales.
The RAC said it was inevitable that the roads would be used more, as motorists were being "forced" to use their cars. National Highways has been advising drivers to plan journeys carefully and check their vehicle before setting off.
Increase in breakdowns
London commuters have been hit hardest by the rail and bus strikes, with the average journey taking 83% longer than in normal times. Manchester was also badly impacted, with journeys taking 66% longer than usual. However, some areas weren't badly affected, as people chose to work from home.
The RAC said many people were using cars that were not driven frequently, so when they were suddenly required to go a long distance, they were failing. Even a quick top-up of oil and coolant can prevent an unnecessary breakdown. The organisation reported dealing with between 5% and 8% more breakdowns when public transport workers were on strike.
The rail strikes also affected restaurants, theatres, cinemas and other leisure activities in the evening, particularly in London, as people didn't want to drive into busy town centres and struggle to park or hail a taxi.
Summer of discontent
The strike action has been described as a "summer of discontent" for the government. Trade unions and workers have objected to pay offers, claiming they fail to account for the significant rise in the cost of living and inflation.
When pressed on whether there were more train strikes planned for September, union leaders said they were yet to settle business with the government, pledging that the dispute would be "prolonged indefinitely" unless MPs intervened.
If any of the trade unions decide to launch new strike action, they must give rail companies and the public plenty of notice. National Rail says as soon as any further industrial action is announced, media outlets and the public will be updated accordingly.
