The Friday night rush

Traffic jams on a Friday afternoon always seem to be the worst of the working week - as daily commuters are joined by those heading for a weekend getaway.

But how far can motorists get in an hour on a typical Friday?

And does leaving later - to avoid the worst queues - make that much of a difference?

Take a scroll through these maps -created by mapping and analytics software company Esri UK - which show driving distances from 10 of the busiest city centres.

Start point: New Street Station

Map shows the furthest that can be travelled by road in 60 minutes on a typical Friday - if you leave at the following times:

Maximum possible distances

4pm = 45.1 miles

7pm = 48.9 miles

10pm = 49.7 miles

Start point: Bristol Shopping Quarter

Bristol is the best of these 10 cities for journey distances in the 4pm rush hour.

Map shows the furthest that can be travelled by road in 60 minutes on a typical Friday - if you leave at the following times:

Maximum possible distances

4pm = 52.2 miles

7pm = 52.4 miles

10pm = 54.1 miles

Start point: Glasgow Central Station

Map shows the furthest that can be travelled by road in 60 minutes on a typical Friday - if you leave at the following times:

Maximum possible distances

4pm = 46.9 miles

7pm = 48.1 miles

10pm = 49.6 miles

Start point: Trinity Leeds

Map shows the furthest that can be travelled by road in 60 minutes on a typical Friday - if you leave at the following times:

Maximum possible distances

4pm = 47.9 miles

7pm = 48.5 miles

10pm = 48.5 miles

Start point: Liverpool Central Station

Map shows the furthest that can be travelled by road in 60 minutes on a typical Friday - if you leave at the following times:

Maximum possible distances

4pm = 34.0 miles

7pm = 41.6 miles

10pm = 45.6 miles

Start point: Charing Cross Station

London is the worst of these 10 cities for journey distances in the 4pm rush hour.

Map shows the furthest that can be travelled by road in 60 minutes on a typical Friday - if you leave at the following times:

Maximum possible distances

4pm = 31.8 miles

7pm = 36.3 miles

10pm = 42.4 miles

Start point: Manchester Arndale

Map shows the furthest that can be travelled by road in 60 minutes on a typical Friday - if you leave at the following times:

Maximum possible distances

4pm = 39.3 miles

7pm = 42.4 miles

10pm = 44.8 miles

Start point: Newcastle Central Station

Map shows the furthest that can be travelled by road in 60 minutes on a typical Friday - if you leave at the following times:

Maximum possible distances

4pm = 44.5 miles

7pm = 45.0 miles

10pm = 46.6 miles

Start point: Exchange Arcade

Map shows the furthest that can be travelled by road in 60 minutes on a typical Friday - if you leave at the following times:

Maximum possible distances

4pm = 40.2 miles

7pm = 41.7 miles

10pm = 44.0 miles

Start point: Sheffield City Hall

Map shows the furthest that can be travelled by road in 60 minutes on a typical Friday - if you leave at the following times:

Maximum possible distances

4pm = 38.4 miles

7pm = 44.3 miles

10pm = 45.2 miles