UK roads witness more traffic than before the pandemic
August 21, 2021, 9:31 am

UK roads witness more traffic than before the pandemic

UK streets

According to the Sky News, travel data in UK has shown there are more cars on the road this summer than at any time during the pandemic.

According to data from navigation technology company TomTom, traffic on some major routes has risen above pre-pandemic levels.

The Sky News reported that since COVID-19-related restrictions in the UK were relaxed, people have become more mobile leading to an increase in car use.

It said, data from the Office for National Statistics shows as many as 9.4m trips were made abroad in August 2019.

The current rules on international travel mean there are likely to be millions more people in the UK than usual this summer, with many choosing to holiday at home.

The Sky News added, it's not holidays alone that have contributed to rise in the number of cars on the roads.

Experts suggest the pandemic's impact on our lifestyles is also a factor.

"Three national lockdowns upturned UK mobility habits," said Ru Roberts, country manager for the Google-owned mobile navigation app Waze.

"We are more dependent on our cars than ever, trips made for leisure, travel and errands are exceeding pre-COVID levels by nearly 130%, and there's been a 20% increase on pre-lockdown traffic levels."

And according to government data, while the number of cars on roads has mostly recovered, bus and rail use across Britain remains around half its pre-pandemic level.

According to a survey reported by trade journal Railway Technology, nearly two in five people in the UK are still reluctant to use public transport.

This is despite the rail infrastructure operator Network Rail finding no traces of COVID in air samples in major stations across the country earlier this month.

Should confidence in public transport increase, it might offset the rise in car use.

Similarly, if international travel becomes easier, then next summer fewer people are likely to be in the UK and on the roads.

Source: skynews

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”