Anger with the poor state of Britain’s local roads has reached a record high, with half of drivers (49%) surveyed by the RAC listing it as a top motoring concern.
As part of its annual report on motoring, the RAC first started asking drivers for their views on the condition and maintenance of local roads in 2015. The previous high – 46% – was recorded in 2021.
The RAC study also reveals that two-thirds of drivers (67%) say that the condition of the local roads they regularly drive on has deteriorated in the past 12 months, up from 60% in the 2022 report, making for the biggest increase since 2017.
This year only 4% think local road conditions have improved over the last 12 months.
While problems with road surfaces are overwhelmingly to blame (cited by 97% of drivers), there are several other factors contributing to this decline, including faded road markings (61%), litter (35%) and poor signage visibility (34%).
The state of roads has also led to most drivers having to take sudden, evasive action, with a third (35%) reporting they have been forced to swerve quickly to avoid a pothole and ended up completely crossing into another lane or going on to the other side of the road.
Seven in 10 (69%) say they have been forced to slow sharply to drive over a pothole and 37% have tried to maintain a greater distance from the car in front to give themselves more time to react to road-surface problems.
Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said: “Many drivers will be wondering why so many potholes appeared on the country’s local roads in the absence of a particularly cold winter.
“Sadly, a long-term lack of funding for maintenance and repair work means our roads are in a such a fragile state that it only takes a little rainwater getting into existing flaws followed by some sub-zero temperatures for them to break down further.
“We have to bring the ongoing deterioration of our local roads to an end by giving councils the certainty of funding they need to be able to plan proper maintenance programmes which include resurfacing roads that have gone beyond point where they can be patched up.”
The RAC is calling on the Government to ringfence 2p from every litre of existing fuel revenues over a five-year period, a move it says “will give councils the funds they need to be able to plan proper maintenance programmes”.
Mr Williams added: “It is plain wrong that drivers who contribute billions in tax every year have to put up with roads that are so far from being fit for purpose.”
I find it incredible in these times that Britain’s roads are in such appalling condition. Having travelled in Europe and further, I’m amazed to see roads that are perfectly tarmacked, free from defects, yet our own are terrible, and in some cases downright dangerous. For such an ‘advanced’ country, our roads are an embarrassment. What must visitors to the UK think when they journey on our roads? The fuel giants are making huge profits, taxing them to make the roads better is the way forward, however they will simply raise fuel prices to compensate…
Stuart Mottershaw, Leicester
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