Exeter commuters frustrated as city hits top UK traffic congestion list

Exeter has been named as one of the most congested cities in the UK – and for many residents, the figures confirm what they experience every day on their morning and evening commutes. 

New data from the global TomTom Traffic Index shows drivers in the city spend an average of 56 extra hours a year stuck in rush-hour queues, with congestion slowing traffic to 63 per cent below free-flow speeds during peak periods. 

A typical six-mile commute now takes around 19 minutes, significantly longer than in free-flow conditions and noticeably slower than in previous years.

Although Exeter is far smaller than major UK cities, it ranks 78th worldwide for congestion, putting it alongside the worst-affected cities in the country. 

Within Britain, only Hull, London and Birmingham fare worse. For locals, the statistics are more than numbers, they are a daily frustration.

"I live in Topsham and work in the city centre," says Hannah Cooper, a marketing executive.

 "My six-mile commute can take 40 minutes on a bad morning. I leave earlier than I should, I’m stressed before I even get to my desk, and I’ve had to start factoring in extra time for school drop-offs too."

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The RAC reports that congestion in Exeter is particularly severe on Wednesdays, as more office workers travel into the city as part of post-Covid hybrid working patterns. 

"It’s the worst day of the week for me," says Tom Wilkes, a software engineer commuting from Cranbrook. 

"If I leave at 8am, I can sit in traffic for 20-25 minutes just to get past the Marsh Barton roundabout. Some days it feels like you’re moving at a snail’s pace." 

The RAC says Exeter’s constrained road network, combined with a large travel-to-work population from surrounding towns and villages, creates intense pressure on key routes.

Stagecoach South West, which operates most of the city’s bus services, says traffic delays are having a major impact on reliability. 

"Congestion and roadworks create delays, drive up operating costs and place significant pressure on timetables, making buses less attractive and pushing more journeys back into private cars," a spokesperson said. 

Peter Knight, Managing Director at Stagecoach South West, described congestion as one of the biggest threats to the future of Exeter’s bus network. 

"Congestion is one of the biggest challenges facing bus operations in Exeter," he said. 

"It affects reliability for customers, increases costs for operators and ultimately puts pressure on the long-term sustainability of the bus network.”

“If we are serious about improving public transport and encouraging people out of their cars, congestion must be tackled in a coordinated and realistic way."

Stagecoach is reviewing city timetables ahead of April service changes and is investing in app upgrades, including enhanced journey planning tools and personalised disruption alerts. 

The company and Devon County Council have also announced £29.3 million of investment, including new electric buses for Exeter from early 2026 and the installation of 10 electric chargers at the company’s depot.

Congestion in Exeter is not a new problem. In 2019, council data showed that around half of the 40,000-plus people who work in Exeter commute in from outside the city, with numbers rising by 7,500 over the previous decade. 

"I live in Exmouth and commute into the city every day," says Carla Mitchell, a nurse at the RD&E Hospital. 

"Most of my colleagues drive too because buses aren’t reliable enough. Sitting in traffic three or four times a week is exhausting." 

Major housing developments to the east and south of Exeter, alongside expansion at sites such as the Science Park, have continued to increase travel demand. 

Forecasts suggest employment in and around Exeter could rise by 25 to 30 per cent over the next 20 years, putting even more strain on already stretched roads.

The city’s historic roads, many built around the River Exe, make widening or creating new routes virtually impossible. 

A draft Exeter Transport Strategy 2020-2030 emphasises walking, cycling, and public transport as the only realistic solutions. 

"I’ve started cycling from Pinhoe into the city centre," says Michael Davies, a teacher. 

"It’s a bit of a challenge, especially in bad weather, but there’s something satisfying about overtaking all the stationary traffic on my bike. It’s the only way I can guarantee my commute isn’t ruined by gridlock."

Exeter City Council has attempted to discourage car use in the city centre through parking charge increases, with a 10 per cent rise in April adding to a similar increase in 2018. 

Council leader Cllr Phil Bialyk said at the time: "People are making choices to drive their cars into the city and we have to get them to change their attitudes.” 

“We want to continue the success of Exeter, but it will not continue if people continue to clog up the streets in their cars and there is severe air pollution going forward.” 

“We’ve got to encourage people to use other modes of transport to come into the city. If we don’t, we will be responsible for allowing the city to die."

For many commuters from outside the city, however, options are limited. Only 11 per cent of those travelling from beyond Exeter’s boundary use public transport, and in rural areas, up to 90 per cent rely on cars. 

"I’d love to take the bus or train, but it’s just not practical from where I live," says Tom Wilkes. "Even if I wanted to, it would double my commute time. Right now, sitting in traffic is unavoidable."

For Exeter residents, congestion is not just an inconvenience; it’s a real-life drain on time, energy, and patience. 

The extra 56 hours a year spent in traffic equates to more than a working week lost to queues, with parents, shift workers, and businesses all feeling the effects. 

"It’s frustrating, exhausting, and stressful," says Hannah Cooper. "You leave home thinking it’s just a short drive, and suddenly it’s 40 minutes of stop-start traffic. Everyone feels it - drivers, cyclists, bus users, everyone."

The latest congestion ranking may be global, but for Exeter residents, the challenge is entirely local – playing out day after day on the roads they rely on to get to work, school, and home again.