MOTORISTS have been driven off Greater Manchester roads by soaring fuel prices.

Figures reveal there has been a marked decline in traffic levels in recent days - although today bad weather brought gridlock back to some roads.

Despite today's queues, experts say the high cost of fuel could have a long term effect on congestion and the way we travel in the region.

The reduction in the number of vehicles was clear on Deansgate last night where the M.E.N. pictured  the almost deserted scene at what would normally have been rush-hour.

M.E.N. photographers also went to a notorious stretch of the M60 at the Irwell Valley near Swinton, where cars are normally nose-to-tail, and found traffic flowing freely as commuters headed home last night.

Traffic analysts confirmed there has been a dramatic fall in the number of cars on the region's roads as the price of unleaded petrol heads towards £1.20 a litre.

Mary Vingoe, of Altrincham-based traffic information service keepmoving.co.uk, said: "In the Manchester area traffic started to get quieter a couple of weeks ago when the schools went on their half-term break, but traffic levels do not appear to have increased again."

Data by the company shows the average speed of traffic on the M60 at the Trafford Centre has increased by around 5mph compared with the same period in May. This suggests that there is less traffic on the roads.

Prof Garel Rhys, of Cardiff University, said: "There's been a slight reduction in traffic but that reduction has had a dramatic effect on the flow of traffic. It's probably down to the very rapid rise in the cost of petrol.

"A number of people will actually give up the car and use public transport."

He suggested bosses behind Manchester's congestion charge plan should wait before implementing it to ensure fuel prices came down.

He said: "The price of fuel has actually reduced the amount of congestion for you."

Richard Critchley, of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: "There's growing evidence that people are cutting down on non-essential trips.

"We're going to see more and more evidence of people looking at alternative forms of transport like walking or cycling."

A Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive spokesman said it was too early to say whether rising fuel prices has resulted in an increase in the use of public transport such as the Metrolink. But commuters at Altrincham tram station reported a huge rise in the number of people trying to catch the Metrolink into the city yesterday. Graham Smith, data manager for Trafficmaster, said there has been a gradual decline in levels of traffic in the region over the last year.

"It is actually down every month for the last 12 months, compared with the same month the year before, by between one and five per cent." Matthew Woodhouse, of Harry Hall's Cycles in Manchester, said: "There are definitely more pedal cycles on the roads. There are two more big cycle shops in Manchester where we used to be the only one."

An RAC spokesman said: "I've spoken to one of our patrolmen in Greater Manchester and he said traffic is noticeably lighter, especially in the last few days. He's also noticed that people are driving slower than usual."

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