The report criticises the efforts of the Highways Agency

The agency has failed to target its most sophisticated technology at the most congested motorways, the Commons Public Accounts Committee report added.

And drivers must be given more information before and during journeys.

The Highways Agency said it was already implementing "many measures" suggested by the committee.

The HA has been timid and ineffective in testing and adopting a range of quick win congestion-reducing measures that have been shown to work abroad Committee chairman Edward Leigh

Traffic management trials had been measured "poorly" meaning results had been inconclusive, the agency concluded.

"The agency has not targeted its most sophisticated technology at the most congested motorways, failing to install appropriate technology on many of the heavily congested motorways in the south-east [of England]," the report continues.

Chairman Edward Leigh said the HA must demonstrate the same "leadership and imaginative thinking" as that displayed by England's European neighbours.

"The HA has been timid and ineffective in testing and adopting a range of quick win congestion-reducing measures that have been shown to work abroad," he said.

"Some, such as variable speed limits, have been used on only small stretches of motorway and others, like hard shoulder running, have not so far been tried out at all."

'Primitive signs'

Giving drivers roadside messages which were continually updated and helping them to choose alternative routes was "wanting", he said.

"Drivers in Paris enjoy this technology so it is infuriating that drivers on heavily congested motorways in the south-east of England have had to make do with primitive message signs," he added.

The HA said it was "focused on dealing with the worst congestion spots" around the major roads of England.

"We are spending �1.7bn to deliver a wide range of projects to tackle congestion, improve safety and provide reliable journey information to motorists," a spokesman said.

'Hot' lanes

AA Motoring Trust director Bert Morris said the HA was "generally doing a good job" in trying to address congestion.

We don't know if these things will work but actually piloting them is very important AA Motoring Trust

"But we're not so effective in introducing innovative schemes to improve traffic flow and we need to give better information," he told BBC News.

He cited the US "Hot" lane - or high occupancy toll lane - as one scheme that could be trialled in this country.

"Things like that are having an impact in different countries," he said.

"We'd like to see pilots of such schemes over here.