HEAVY rush-hour traffic is forcing drivers to set the alarm up to eight minutes earlier than five years ago just to get to work on time.

According to data published by the Department for Transport (DfT), a 46-mile morning commute across Surrey along A roads from Farnham to Redhill took an hour and 55 minutes on average in September 2010.

But by this September, commuters spent two hours and three minutes at the wheel - eight minutes longer - to make the same weekday journey.

It now takes two minutes and 41 seconds on average to travel a mile on Surrey’s A roads at peak times during the week, compared to two minutes and 31 seconds in 2010.

But the DfT data also shows average speeds during the weekday morning peak actually increased on the main A roads through Farnham –perhaps indicating the majority of Surrey’s congestion is taking place in the east of the county.

Speeds on the northbound Surrey stretch of the A287 from Haslemere to Farnham have increased from 21mph to 27mph since September 2010, while speeds on the same road southbound have remained the same (24mph).

Peak-time speeds on the eastbound Surrey stretch of the A31 between Guildford and Farnham have also increased from 29mph to 34mph, although the average westbound speed has reduced by two mph to 37mph.

Speeds on the A325 through Wrecclesham and Farnham have stayed broadly the same, remaining at 17mph northbound and increasing just one mph to 23mph southbound since 2010.

Responding to the data, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for highways, John Furey said: “Sacrificing time in bed is something nobody likes doing, especially when it means staring glumly at a queue of traffic in front of us.

“But these figures are further proof of the huge impact rising traffic on Surrey’s already heavily used roads have on our lives and given that local drivers contribute £100 million in Vehicle Excise Duty every year while only getting £20million back to invest in our network it only seems right that they get a fairer deal,” Mr Furey added.