DUBLIN IS AMONG the top 10 cities in Europe rated worst for traffic congestion, according to an index which monitors and analyses traffic in major urban centres.

The TomTom Congestion Index compares travel times during non-congested periods (free flow) with travel times in peak hours. During the period January – March 2012, the Irish capital was rated as more congested than Leeds-Bradford, London, Stockholm and Hamburg.

Warsaw was rated as the most congested city in Europe, with a 42 per cent congestion level.

1. Warsaw – 42 per cent congestion level

2. Marseille – 41 per cent

3. Rome – 34 per cent

4. Brussels – 34 per cent

5. Paris – 32 per cent

6. Dublin – 30 per cent

7. Leeds-Bradford – 28 per cent

8. London – 27 per cent

9. Stockholm – 27 per cent

10. Hamburg – 27 per cent

At the beginning of 2012, draft proposals for the development of Dublin city centre indicated that the capital was to become a more “pedestrian-friendly” area, with cars only a secondary priority.

The proposal to Dublin City Council stated that increasing congestion in the city centre made it essential to prioritise pedestrians and public transport over cars in the near future.

Read: Pedestrians to have priority over cars in new Dublin plan>

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