The best and worst motorways and 'A' roads have been revealed by independent watchdog, Transport Focus, with satisfaction rates declining year-on-year.

The Strategic Roads User Survey asked more than 9,000 drivers about their last journey on a motorway or major ‘A’ road managed by National Highways.  

They rated the M42 as the worst motorway in England after it scored 56% for overall satisfaction from road users.

This follows a significant period of roadworks around Birmingham airport. One of those dissatisfied said: “Roadworks, potholes and delays. Terrible road to drive on.”  

The highest rated motorway by road users was the M40, despite its overall satisfaction score of 79% falling from the 82% scored last year. The top motorway in 2023, the M5, fell from 82% to 77%.

The A19 was rated the best ‘A’ road in England with the highest overall satisfaction at 85%. The A12 received the lowest overall satisfaction rating from road users (55%), followed by the A27 (63%).   

Alex Robertson, chief executive of Transport Focus, said: “Drivers tell us that the maintenance of motorways and major roads - how most of us get around the country - is more important to them than building new roads.

“With road user perceptions of road surface quality deteriorating since 2022 and declining satisfaction with journey times, National Highways must continue to focus on delivering safe, smooth journeys. 

“We’re committed to working with the Government and National Highways to help them to deliver on road users’ top priorities - improved journey times and satisfaction with surface quality.”  

Overall, 71% of road users were satisfied with their journey – a decrease from the 73% reported last year.  

Road user satisfaction with journey time has also declined, from 71% last year to 68%, along with satisfaction with road surface quality, which has fallen from 73% to 68% year-on-year.

Management of roadworks, meanwhile, continues to be one of the weaker performing areas with 49% of drivers that passed through roadworks on their journey satisfied with their management, similar to last year.   

Ashton Cull, public affairs manager at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said: “Roads are our industry’s workplace and this survey clearly reflects the views we hear from lorry, coach and van drivers that they must improve.

“Declining road quality leads to congestion and delays which costs the UK £30 billion a year.

“Better roads make journeys more efficient and boost economic growth so we urge decisionmakers across the country to invest in getting them into the best possible condition.”

Regionally from the seven National Highways regions it was the South West that was the highest rated with an overall user satisfaction score of 76%. The M25 region is lowest at 68%.   

The most improved region is the North West. It is the only region to have seen an increase in overall satisfaction and has moved from joint bottom in 2022/23 on 70%, to second on 73%. 

A National Highways spokesperson said: “Maintaining and investing in our roads is a priority and our most recent assessment shows that over 96% of them are in good condition.

“We have a robust programme of improvements which will provide long term benefits for motorists, including shorter and more reliable journeys.” 

Best and worst roads

 

Overall rank  

Road  

Overall satisfaction %  

1  

A19  

85  

2  

M40  

79  

3  

M4  

78  

4  

M5  

77  

5  

A1(M)  

76  

6  

A38  

75  

7  

A46  

74  

8  

M56  

73  

9  

A30  

73  

10  

M3  

73  

11  

M60  

72  

12  

M6  

71  

13  

A1  

71  

14  

A2  

71  

15  

A14  

71  

16  

M27  

70  

17  

M1  

69  

18  

A47  

69  

19  

A5  

69  

20  

M11  

68  

21  

M25  

67  

22  

A34  

64  

23  

A3  

64  

24  

A27  

63  

25  

M62  

60  

26  

M42  

56  

27  

A12  

55  

Source:Transport Focus

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