'I drove on the UK's most congested road - and almost got hit'

London is well known for its traffic, but nowhere quite matches that description better than the A40 Westway. New research from transport analytics company Inrix has judged the route to be the most congested in the UK with rush hour between 5pm and 6pm considered the worst.

According to the analysis, motorists should expect to lose 17 minutes waiting in traffic across the route. This adds up to an eye-watering 68 hours per year, which researchers say makes it worse than the North Circular Road and even the M25. Fittingly, I think there's no better way to see the damage for myself than behind the wheel.

Peddling along in a plucky Fiat Cinquecento, I move onto the Westway at Kensington and quickly settle into the left-hand lane to get my bearings. To start with, the journey isn't bad. Drivers are respecting their lanes dutifully and I'm starting to wonder what the fuss is about.

Minutes later I see why. A bunch of traffic divert to the left exit, which creates a concertina effect that bunches up the traffic. It quickly feels like I'm sitting bumper to bumper in a moving traffic jam. We're still trundling along, no more than 10 or 15mph, but cars are too close to make any progress.

But this is why the Westway is key. Built between 1962 and 1970, the Westway is a 2.5mile elevated dual carriageway section of the popular A40 road in West London.

The road was formally considered a motorway until the year 2000, when Highways Agency chiefs handed over control of the route to the Greater London Authority.

The route is used by around 96,000 vehicles per day, making it one of the busiest in London. Yes the traffic is moving slowly, but it's off the congested side streets where volumes like this would bring the whole city to a halt.

Minutes later, I'm bolted into life as I hear a short, sharp beep from the car behind who has narrowly missed my bumper by an inch as we both peel off the road. Escaping to the apparent harmony of Paddington, it's easy to see why this road has a reputation.

Without it, London's traffic would surely be a bigger issue than it already is, making it one of the most crucial arteries in the country. Just make sure to bring your eyes, and ears, it's not a route for the faint-hearted.