UK Motorists Bemoan State of Britain’s Roads

The state of Britain’s roads features highly on the list of complaints made by UK drivers taking part in the RAC’s annual survey.

Of the 1,542 motorists who participated in the survey, over three quarters of the respondents said that major roads in the UK were deteriorating.

Many of the respondents questioned what their road tax is paying for, complaining that it is certainly not going towards road maintenance.

In a statement from the RAC they said: “Some tax from drivers should be ‘ring-fenced for roads’ to stop them becoming ‘one big pothole’.”

However, the Department for Transport (DfT) refutes the findings of the RAC stating that it has invested substantially in maintenance of the UK’s roads.

As well as bemoaning the state of major roads across Britain, UK drivers were also critical of the state of local highways. The survey reveals that 84% of motorists think that local roads are in a poor condition and a further 75% thought that motorways and principal roads had deteriorated substantially.

In a statement from the RAC, they said: “The number of drivers having to foot the bill for damage caused to their vehicle by potholes has increased dramatically.”

In response, the DfT stated: “Recent harsh winters and hot summers have taken their toll on many of Britain’s roads and the cost of repair is always increasing. We are constantly looking to improve Britain’s roadways with minimal disruption and with a view to keeping costs down so that increased tax charges are not incurred by motorists.”

Yet the RAC disputes claims made by the DfT, revealing that: “The Treasury collects more than £40bn in motoring taxes each year but, on average, spends just 22% of that on improving and maintaining roads – more investment is needed.”

The RAC continued: “The RAC believes that without this investment the Government will be responsible for overseeing a massive decline in the state of our highways which negatively affects consumers and businesses alike, stalls the economy and stores up a huge bill for future tax payers.”

In a DfT statement they said: “The Government is providing councils in England with more than £3bn between 2011 and 2015 to maintain their highways. It is ultimately up to local highway authorities to determine how they prioritise their funding.”

At present, Britain’s motorway network and major ‘A’ road highways are maintained by the Highways Agency, an executive agency of the DfT, while all other roads come under the jurisdiction of local authorities.

Tags: Road Safety Advice, Road Safety News, Safe Roads, Safe Streets

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