These are the places to avoid on Calderdale's roads if you don't want to get stuck in traffic, figures reveal

The Department for Transport figures show that the M62 eastbound between J25 and J26 and the M62 eastbound at the Hartshead Moor services between J25 and J26 had the slowest moving traffic among the major roads in Calderdale in 2018.

Vehicles on both those sections of road travelled at an average of just 52.6mph.

At the other end of the scale, vehicles sped along the M62 eastbound between J22 and J23 at an average of 68mph – making it the fastest section of road in the area.

The figures include measurements taken at 13 places on the strategic road network – major routes managed by Government-owned company Highways England – in Calderdale.

Across England, motorists suffered a 3.9 per cent increase in delays on motorways and major A roads last year.

Journeys took an average of 9.4 seconds per mile longer than if vehicles were able to drive at the speed limit, according to the DfT, up from 9.0 seconds during the previous year.

It suggests that driving along a 10-mile section of road with a 60mph limit typically took 11 minutes and 34 seconds last year, compared with 10 minutes in free flow conditions.

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: "More congestion means more wasted time and money, which is clearly bad news for drivers, but it may be a case of short-term pain for longer term gain.

"Much work is being carried out on our motorways to improve capacity by upgrading them to smart motorways, but this inevitably causes delays.

"Nonetheless, extra capacity is badly needed as Britain now has around 38 million vehicles registered for use, and in the 10 years from 2007 more than four million extra vehicles came on to the road."

A DfT spokeswoman said: "This government is determined to improve journeys for all motorists, which is why we're investing nearly £29 billion to reduce congestion on our roads up to 2025.

"We are also investing £3.1 billion in local projects to make road travel smoother, while our £2.5 billion Transforming Cities Fund will develop innovative public transport schemes to further tackle congestion in some of England's biggest cities."