A new study has found that Britain’s roads are in need of a serious revamp, with almost nine in ten (87 per cent)of UK drivers agreeing that not enough maintenance work or regular inspections are carried out across the country’s roads.
The latest GEM poll revealed widespread dissatisfaction among UK drivers, with only one per cent of respondents describing current road markings as ‘excellent’ and three per cent as ‘very good’.
Additionally, a huge 86 per cent have noticed a greater number of potholes appearing in the last 12 months, while more than half blamed the floods for causing markings to deteriorate.
However, only 19 per cent said they would happily see a small increase in Vehicle Excise Duty to pay for pothole repair work.
David Williams, chief executive officer of GEM Motoring Assist, said: “We know that the weather at this time of year really has an effect on our roads, particularly as ice and frost are destructive to road surfaces and can also worsen existing damage.
“Yet it is up to the government to ensure surface and markings maintenance work is regular, to help manage these problems and stop them from getting worse.”
So it will come as some relief that in the Autumn statement the Chancellor George Osborne pledged £1 billion to improving Britian’s roads – something that, according to the survey, is long overdue.
With the weather likely to remain as icy as it has been recently, it is always wise to ensure you check road conditions before travelling and drive with extra care and attention.
