WHEN the Beatles kindly gave permission for people to drive their car in 1966, I suspect congestion wasn’t as big an issue as it is now.

But in 2017, it’s something we have to contend with. To beat those jams though, why not use our traffic and travel page? It’s not as cheery as the Fab Four but it’s certainly very useful.

A quick look around North Worcestershire and the Black Country has thrown up the following hot spots you may wish to avoid:

*B4193 Hartlebury Road, Stourport-On-Severn. We’re getting reports of heavy traffic on B4193 Westbound between Wilden Lane and A4025 Worcester Road.

*Highbridge Road Brierley Hill, Dudley. Road is closed both ways due to ongoing bridge maintenance work between Knowle Hill Road and Hill Street / Church Road. Diversion: Pedmore Road, Peartree Lane, Cinder Bank, Sims Lane, Hill Street.

*A441 Birmingham Road, Redditch. Temporary traffic lights are in use at Weights Lane as ongoing work takes place on a new housing development.

*A4123 Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury. One lane closed due to electricity work on A4123 Northbound between A4034 Churchbridge (Birchley Island) and Newbury Lane / Portway Road.

To find out what’s happening on the roads in your area, visit our page here. You can tailor the search to suit your journeys.