The World’s Busiest Highways

#2: M1 Pacific Motorway

Stretching from Sydney to Brisbane, the M1 Pacific Motorway is a critical freight and commuter route. It’s often named among the world’s busiest highways, with holiday periods turning certain stretches into major traffic hotspots in 2025.

• Number of lanes: 2 to 3
• Average peak daily traffic count: 250,000
• Negative sentiment: 2%
• Traffic and congestion mentions: 4,300
• Total score out of 100: 67.58

#3: Kwinana Freeway

The Kwinana Freeway connects Perth’s central business district (CBD) to its southern suburbs and beyond. This route regularly features in highway congestion statistics for Western Australia due to dense suburban growth and limited alternative corridors.

• Number of lanes: 2 to 5
• Average peak daily traffic count: 195,736
• Negative sentiment: 43%
• Traffic and congestion mentions: 4,180
• Total score out of 100: 54.96

#4: Tullamarine Freeway

Providing the main link between Melbourne Airport and the CBD, the Tullamarine Freeway experiences consistently high daily vehicle counts. Congestion intensifies during peak commuting hours and major events at Melbourne’s sporting precincts.

• Number of lanes: 3 to 5
• Average peak daily traffic count: 210,000
• Negative sentiment: 5%
• Traffic and congestion mentions: 480
• Total score out of 100: 50.83

#5: Bruce Highway

Running from Brisbane to Cairns, the Bruce Highway is Queensland’s major north–south arterial. It’s a vital freight route but also one of the most notorious traffic hotspots in 2025 during school holidays and cyclone season, when both tourism and weather can disrupt travel.

• Number of lanes: 1 to 4
• Average peak daily traffic count: 167,648
• Negative sentiment: 18%
• Traffic and congestion mentions: 5,300
• Total score out of 100: 48.95

Top 5 busiest UK highways

From London’s orbital motorway to key intercity links, the UK’s most congested roads are vital to the economy yet notorious for delays, making them prominent traffic hotspots in 2025.

#1: M25: 16-15 segment

Encircling London, this stretch of the M25 in Buckinghamshire is one of the most congested roads in the UK. High daily vehicle counts come from a mix of commuter, freight and long-distance traffic, making it a notorious traffic hotspot during peak hours.

• Number of lanes in segment: 4
• Average peak daily traffic count: 205,344
• Negative sentiment: 22%
• Traffic and congestion mentions: 71,620
• Total score out of 100: 91.16

#2: M25: 14 Hillingdon Boundary

Serving as a key western approach to London, this part of the M25 consistently ranks high in highway congestion statistics. Its proximity to Heathrow Airport further adds to delays, especially during holiday periods.

• Number of lanes in segment: 6
• Average peak daily traffic count: 210,436
• Negative sentiment: 22%
• Traffic and congestion mentions: 71,620
• Total score out of 100: 90.00

#3: M25: 13-14 segment

Known for bottlenecks and frequent slowdowns, this segment of the M25 suffers from both local and through traffic. It’s a prime example of how world’s busiest highways status can apply even to short stretches of road in Surrey.

• Number of lanes in segment: 5
• Average peak daily traffic count: 205,995
• Negative sentiment: 22%
• Traffic and congestion mentions: 71,620
• Total score out of 100: 88.53

#4: M60: 13-12 segment

Part of Manchester and Salford’s orbital motorway, this section of the M60 handles dense commuter flows and freight traffic. It’s a regular traffic hotspot for the northwest, particularly during weekday mornings and evenings.

• Number of lanes in segment: 4
• Average peak daily traffic count: 192,025
• Negative sentiment: 15%
• Traffic and congestion mentions: 18,320
• Total score out of 100: 64.35

#5: M6: 20-21 segment

As a key link between the northwest and the Midlands, this Warrington stretch of the M6 sees some of the highest daily vehicle counts in the region. Congestion here is common, with delays worsened by accidents and roadworks.

• Number of lanes in segment: 3
• Average peak daily traffic count: 178,281
• Negative sentiment: 13%
• Traffic and congestion mentions: 48,860
• Total score out of 100: 55.90

What causes highway congestion?

Several factors combine to create the conditions seen on the world’s busiest highways. Urban sprawl pushes residential areas further from city centres, increasing reliance on cars for commuting. Heavy freight movement, particularly on routes linking ports and industrial hubs, raises daily vehicle counts and slows traffic flow. ¹Mingshu Wang, Neil Debbage, “Urban morphology and traffic congestion: Longitudinal evidence from US cities”. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, Volume 89, 2021, 101676, ISSN 0198-9715.1.

Economic hubs naturally attract high numbers of workers, shoppers and visitors, but inadequate public transport can leave few alternatives to driving. Together, these pressures create persistent highway congestion statistics and turn key routes into year-round traffic hotspots.

Why this matters to drivers

Understanding which routes rank among the most congested roads isn’t just about avoiding frustration, as it also has financial and environmental implications. Stop-start driving in traffic hotspots increases fuel consumption, raising costs for motorists. Prolonged congestion also accelerates wear-and-tear on key vehicle components such as brakes, clutches and gearboxes, adding to the cost.

On a broader scale, idling vehicles contribute significantly to emissions, adding to the environmental impact of highway congestion statistics.

It also exposes you to an increased risk from a higher volume of other road users.