Capitals: Agencies
A recent report revealed that London still maintains its lead in European cities in terms of traffic congestion for the fourth year in a row, ranking fifth in the world in the list of the most congested cities in traffic.
The 2024 annual report issued by the traffic analysis company "Inrix" showed that the British capital caused about half of the traffic delays in the United Kingdom, costing the city's economy losses estimated at about 4.64 billion euros, at a rate of 1,135 euros per driver.
Bob Beshaw, a transport analyst and author of the report, explained that the United Kingdom witnessed a slight increase in congestion levels this year, noting that maintenance work on major corridors such as the M25 Wisely intersection caused major traffic jams on one of the main arteries leading to the capital.
At the European level, Paris came in second and sixth place globally, with drivers spending 97 hours in traffic, followed by Dublin in third place in Europe with an average of 81 hours, then Rome with an average of 71 hours, and Brussels with an average of 74 hours per year.
Transport for London is responsible for a network of major red roads that handle a third of the capital’s traffic, and a spokesperson for the authority confirmed their commitment to ensuring that Londoners move safely, sustainably and efficiently. He added that the authority invests in world-class programmes to ensure optimal use of the roads, with a focus on encouraging sustainable modes of transport such as walking, cycling and public transport.
Belgium has resorted to a new method of collecting fines for those who are late in paying the financial dues resulting primarily from traffic violations, as the authorities decided to deduct these unpaid fines directly from wages.
People usually forget the speed limit on the roads and speed cameras on the road record the violations they have committed and they are quickly fined. 94 per cent of violators choose to pay immediately, which is known as immediate collection. Others prefer a lengthy procedure that could take up to 3 to 4 years, a procedure that the Belgian authorities are seeking to change in the future. The aim of the new procedure is to ensure that debts are settled more quickly, but eliminating the need to appear before the police court could be problematic.

The public finance services will be used as a payroll collection mechanism, where the fine will be deducted from the offender’s salary or bank account or from his financial resources if he is a property owner.