The M11 has been rated the best motorway in England in Transport Focus research covering the year to March 2020.

In the 2019/20 Strategic Roads User Survey the motorway from London and Cambridgeshire had the highest overall satisfaction of 92%.

The best ‘A’ road was at the other end of the country, the A66 route across the Pennines from Scotch Corner to Penrith.

This is the second year of the independent watchdog’s new survey looking at the views of over 8,000 road users about their last journey on a motorway or major ‘A’ road managed by Highways England.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, said: “In the 12 months before the coronavirus lockdown, more than three out of four drivers were satisfied with their journey on England’s motorways and major ‘A’ roads – but some roads score much better than others.”

Drivers were least satisfied with the M20 (which links London and Dover), for the second year in a row.

Commenting on the M20, one driver said: “Get the roadworks done – it’s been 50mph for too long – must be two years possibly…”

Commenting on an M11 journey, a driver said: “Easy way to go, everything went well, no roadworks or holdups.”

Commenting on their experience on the A66, another said: “Quick journey, no hold ups.”

The survey also found that 92% of drivers felt safe on their journey and the overall satisfaction with road surface quality was 83%.

81% of road users were satisfied with their last journey using a motorway or major ‘A’ road managed by Highways England and 79% were satisfied with the journey time.

However, the management of roadworks was lower, 68% of those surveyed were satisfied in this area.

Smith said: “As drivers return to the roads it is vital that management of roadworks is looked at. With just 68 per cent of drivers satisfied this is clearly an area for Highways England to keep focussing on.

“Our research shows that if you’re happy with journey time, you’ll be happy with your journey overall. That’s an important message for Highways England as traffic starts to get back to pre-lockdown levels.”

The least happy road users were commuters at 76% satisfied, followed closely by those travelling on business at 77%. Among drivers of vans and lorries 78% were satisfied with their journey.

The Strategic Roads User Survey became the formal measure of satisfaction among users of Highways England’s roads in April 2020 as part of the Government’s second Road Investment Strategy.

Download full results of the Transport Focus' 2020 Strategic Roads User Survey here

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