TRAFFIC congestion in Glasgow is so bad motorists can't average more than 18 mph through the city.

TRAFFIC congestion in Glasgow is so bad motorists can't average more than 18 mph through the city.

Motoring chiefs at the AA have named the city among the worst in the country for gridlock and are to send out patrolmen on electric scooters and motor bikes to deal more quickly with breakdowns.

Drive for an hour through Glasgow and the average motorist will only have covered 17.3 miles. That's slightly further than the 16.8 miles in Bristol, while in London the distance was 16.6 miles, or 10 miles in its city centre.

The AA has launched a three-month trial for its motor bikes and electric scooter idea in Central London and plans to roll out the scheme.

It believes it will respond to emergencies up to 25% quicker as a result.

Spokeswoman Sue Beeson said the AA last used scooters 15 years ago adding: "This is a long-term significant investment. The roadside technicians love the idea."

The AA and national traffic information firm Trafficmaster said Glasgow the third worst city in the UK for congestion.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said it was encouraging people to use public transport in a bid to reduce snarl-ups.