TRAFFIC congestion cost Scottish drivers a total of £2.4 billion last year with Aberdeen ranked as the worst in the country, new research has found.

The oil and gas capital cost drivers £1,331 last year with 35 peak hours spent in traffic — costing the city £138 million in total.

Edinburgh, which was second, costs drivers £1,009 with 31 hours stuck in traffic, while third-ranked Glasgow cost drivers £766 and 27 hours idle in traffic.

Dr Graham Cookson, chief economist at Inrix, traffic data analysts which prepared the data, said the amounts were calculated based on two criteria: direct and indirect costs.

Direct costs concern the drivers themselves, including calculations made from the costs of wasted time, wasted fuel and carbon emissions.

The indirect costs relate to businesses stuck in traffic — such as UPS, Amazon or independent services such as plumbers — which drive up prices for consumers.

Dr Cookson said: “We all know the cost of driving, we have to buy our car, we put petrol in it, we buy insurance, but you really ever see this hidden cost that congestion costs us; it’s huge. If you look at the average cost [of traffic congestion] in the UK of £968, and compare this with the average insurance premium it’s significantly more.”

He said it was not just about building new roads, but thinking about “smarter” ways to improve congestion, such as encouraging remote working and flexible working hours to spread the loads at peak times.

He added that though most people would expect Edinburgh and Glasgow to have more congestion than Aberdeen — which is true during the day — Aberdeen was found to be worse even than London at peak hours with drivers stuck in gridlock for 24 per cent of the time, at an average speed of 5.5 mph.

Congestions hotspots mostly featured bypasses for Edinburgh and Glasgow, however both cities are also undergoing a number of improvement works.

Aberdeen is also currently undergoing several works which are hoped to ease congestion, including a new £745m Aberdeen bypass.

Councillor Ross Grant spokesman for Regeneration and Transport for Aberdeen City Council, said: “As part of our City Deal we are undergoing numerous appraisals which will help us identify ways we can make travelling in and out of Aberdeen better.

“But, as Scotlands lowest funded council, these issues can only be resolved if the Scottish Government is prepared to be more forthcoming in supporting the city council to address congestion issues in Aberdeen.”

A spokesman for Transport Scotland said total investment in truck roads had increased by £167m in 2016/17, with an additional £160m investment to support local services, including an additional £12.2m for Aberdeen City.

Inrix also ranked the UK with Aberdeen ranking third, following London and Manchester, with Edinburgh at number five.

Glasgow was not in the top 10.

The study — the largest ever of its kind — also gave a global list with Los Angeles the most congested city in the world, followed by Moscow and New York.