Many mothers now spend more than three extra working weeks each year just travelling to and from work.

Despite this, many mums with children under six are still unaware that they have the right to ask their employers for more flexible working practices - which could improve their lives and relieve road congestion, while many employers also maintain they are ignorant of the legislation.

The RAC Foundation claims flexible working practices could hold the key to making many mums happier at work and home as well as helping reduce rush hour jams.

The Foundation would like more firms to offer flexible working hours or full or partial home working to parents of young children and also extending the right to parents of dependent children and to the UK's six million carers.