The southern end of the M1 is the most congested hotspot in the UK, according to a new report.
Research compiled by Trafficmaster and the RAC Foundation found that J6a to J11 of the M1 was the most congested between May 2006 and April 2007.
Long-term road works over the past year have exacerbated the problem, according to the report authors.
Making up the top five in the first UK Congestion Report were the western sector of the M25 near Heathrow, the northern sector of the same London orbital motorway and the M6.
Traffic congestion seems to be increasing in all areas of the UK, the study shows, with the number of people on the roads rising 0.8 per cent across the country.
The CBI estimates that congestion causes the UK economy around £20 billion per year in resources and lost time.
Philip Hale, a spokesman for Trafficmaster, said: "We all know where our local congestion black spots are – and many people have heard of some of the nation's worst roads. The problem is we continue to use the roads when they're most congested, despite knowing we're likely to hit a traffic jam."
Trafficmaster advises motorists to discover less well-known routes to get to their destination, including travelling on the M62 between Manchester and Leeds rather than the M1, which could save around two hours and 25 minutes per week.
When travelling between London and Norwich, the study advised driving on the A12 rather than the often congested M11.
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