New research has revealed the motorways and major A-roads drivers’ rate as the best and worst in England, with more than 9,500 drivers responding.
They were asked about their most recent journey on a road managed by National Highways, with 71% saying they were satisfied overall, which is a small rise from 69% last year.
The M20 and A30 were the highest-rated roads, both achieving 79% satisfaction, while at the other end of the table, the M27 recorded just 56%, while the A12 was the lowest-rated A-road at 64%.
Journey time, road surface quality and roadworks management all influenced the results, with road safety a key concern for fleet drivers and managers.
For fleets, a poorly rated road is more than simply an inconvenience.
Long delays, narrow lanes, changing speed restrictions and difficult road surfaces can all increase driver stress, reduce concentration and place pressure on journey schedules.
Unsurprisingly, drivers who travelled through roadworks recorded significantly lower satisfaction than those who did not, at 58% compared with 77%.
That matters as National Highways prepares for a five-year programme of repairs and renewals, which is likely to mean more roadworks across the strategic road network…
While the completion of recent smart motorway works does show how quickly things can improve, with satisfaction on the M1 has recovered from 57% to 74% following the removal of long stretches of roadworks.
Do the roads your fleet uses create additional safety risks, and should route conditions play a bigger part in driver risk management?
It’s something we’re always conscious of, with Risk Monitor and Fleet Monitor helping you keep a close eye on your drivers and your fleet.
