Bournemouth one of the world's most congested places
But traffic has dropped substantially during rush hour compared with pre-pandemic levels
Bournemouth is among the most congested towns and cities in the UK - and the world, according to new research.
Analysis by location technology firm TomTom placed the Dorset town fifth on the list of the country's cities when it came to peak-hour traffic last year, and 99th in the world.
The other UK cities to make the list were Edinburgh (44th place), London (55th), Hull (60th), and Brighton and Hove (64th).
TomTom surveyed 25 UK towns and cities, finding that traffic jams in the morning and evening rush hours during 2021 eased by 35% compared with 2019.
Southampton saw the second-biggest reduction of any place in the country with jams dropping by 52% - only Reading (53%) saw a higher reduction.
TomTom attributed the decline in congestion to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the growth in online shopping.
The company's traffic expert Andy Marchant said that "2021 was the year in which the UK's new working habits came to the fore: home offices become standard and flexible work hours allowed many commuters to step out of rush hours".
He added: "As a result, peak hours have decreased in all 25 UK cities included in the index.
"However, with the Government set to publish a plan on how the UK can 'learn to live with Covid as a country' by spring, traffic levels will likely increase as British citizens start returning to offices as part of their new working patterns."
Mr Marchant warned that better traffic management can only improve the flow of vehicles by "up to 10%".
Traditional congestion peaks can only be permanently stopped by more people changing how they travel, he explained.
"Cycling, public transport and other modes of transport must take a larger share in transportation," Mr Marchant said.
"Such a redirection requires greater collaboration between UK city planners, policy makers, employers, and drivers - and it takes time."