Drivers have misplaced the equal of 14.5 years caught behind the wheel after being held up by Just Stop Oil protests to this point, figures revealed.

The sit-downs, highway blockades and go-slow marches alongside key fundamental roads across the UK have brought about enormous delays.

Now the authorities are being urged to clamp down on the eco-­protesters, who're accused of trampling over the rights of others.

The Department for Transport revealed that 126,894 drivers’ hours have been misplaced since February 2022.

This is equal to five,287 days or 14 years six months.

The findings got here in a response to a parliamentary query by South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay. He stated: “The damaging impact of Just Stop Oil is now clear to see. This is valuable time that many thousands of ordinary people will never get back.”

He claimed: “These activists have no real understanding of the science of climate change and their misguided actions will have increased carbon dioxide emissions, rather than reduced them. I have been astonished at the failure of the authorities to get a grip.

“We need more robust action and sharpish.” Ian Taylor, of strain group The Alliance of British Drivers, stated: “They are a bunch of true believers who think their end justifies any means. They seem to think they have the right to bring life to a standstill. But ordinary people trying to go about their lives must have rights too.

“We all agree you should be able to protest but not at any expense. Obstructing the highway is an offence. The minute you block the highway, you have taken that step too far.”

A Road Haulage Association spokes­particular person stated: “Blocked roads can be frustrating for commercial vehicle drivers and add unforeseen costs.”

In a written reply, Minister Richard Holden stated: “National Highways, which manages the strategic road network, has estimated drivers’ hours lost as 126,894 hours.

“Illegal protests on our roads put the lives of drivers and road workers at risk, as well as pointlessly interfering with the lives of ordinary people. We will continue to pursue every option available to deter them.”

The division couldn't calculate the air pollution attributable to idling gridlocked autos “due to complexity in gathering such data”.

However, a 2020 report for the City of London by transport marketing consultant TRL discovered a van or LGV produced 27.7g of carbon dioxide when idling for only one minute, whereas vehicles produce roughly 17g.

TRL added that the common quantity of air a baby breathes in a single minute is 5 to 6 litres and if they're close to an idling car “the child could inhale a considerable volume of this emitted CO2”.

The Just Stop Oil group, which has disrupted a spread of high-profile public occasions together with its highway protests, desires the Government to halt new licences for the exploration of oil and different fossil fuels.

It can be calling for an finish to fossil fuels, larger funding in renew­in a position vitality, and higher constructing insulation.