DRIVING through Worcester city centre in rush hour is a true test of patience.

Stick the car into first gear, inch forward a yard, stop, put it in neutral, wait.

Rinse and repeat for half an hour.

Try not to smash fists off dashboard in frustration.

I've only been doing it for a week myself, but the slow crawl down London Road and through the city to our office is such a pain.

It is even more frustrating when you see someone purposefully undertake, only to slip back into the correct lane 30 metres further up the road.

Even if it is understandable.

So why IS Worcester's traffic so bad?

Having only just come across the jams, I must admit to not being entirely sure what the cause is.

Is it simply the volume of traffic?

The layout of the roads?

Or something completely different?

One thing's for certain - it needs to change.

After five days, I have already thought about leaving a bicycle chained up somewhere on London Road, parking my car next to it then cycling the rest of the journey.

It would definitely save time.

The other option is to learn how to ride a motorbike and weave in and out of the traffic.

I think my parents and girlfriend would probably veto that option though.

It takes me half an hour to get to Worcester, then another half hour to get through the city.

That is absolutely absurd and hugely infuriating - what is probably 5 per cent of the distance takes 50 per cent of the time.

So the news that the city council is to undertake a "root-and-branch investigation" into the jams that snarl up the city is one that I, and I guess every commuter, will welcome.

Whether or not the authorities can actually do something that will alleviate the problems is another matter altogether though.

Anything that eases the traffic and lowers stress levels on the way into work in the morning is to be applauded.

I don't know what the answer is, but surely one of the thousands of other road users stuck in the jams alongside me must have an idea?

Wisdom of crowds and all that.

Answers on a postcard please.