Drivers have ranked the M42 as England's worst motorway in a new survey, reflecting growing frustration with the condition and management of the country’s busiest roads.
The survey by watchdog Transport Focus asked over 9,000 drivers about their recent journeys on motorways and major A-roads. The M42, which passes by Birmingham, came out on top—for all the wrong reasons. With just a 56% satisfaction rating, drivers slammed its roadworks, potholes, and delays. One person described it as a “terrible road to drive on."
Top five worst motorways and A roads in the UK
| Overall rank | Road | Satisfaction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A12 | 55% |
| 2 | M42 | 56% |
| 3 | M62 | 60% |
| 4 | A27 | 63% |
| 5 | A3 | 64% |
At the bottom of the rankings for major roads was the A12, running from Ipswich to London. Only 55% of drivers were satisfied with it, with one respondent complaining, “They have been there for over a year now and don’t seem to be doing much.”
In response, National Highways East said it’s about to wrap up £100 million worth of improvements to the A12, which will result in smoother, quieter, and safer journeys.
On a positive note, the M40 saw its satisfaction score rise from 79% to 82%, with drivers praising it as “one of the few motorways that has few delays”. The A19, stretching from Tyneside to Doncaster, was rated England’s best A-road, scoring an impressive 85%, thanks to its smooth surface and lack of traffic.
Top five best motorways and A roads in the UK
| Overall rank | Road | Satisfaction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A19 | 85% |
| 2 | M40 | 79% |
| 3 | M4 | 78% |
| 4 | M5 | 77% |
| 5 | A1(M) | 76% |
Still, Transport Focus’ survey highlights an overall drop in satisfaction with England’s roads, with the average score down to 71%. Frustration over road quality, in particular, dropped five points to 68%.
This comes as drivers spend more time in traffic than ever before, according to Department for Transport data. Transport Focus’ survey also showed a dip in satisfaction with journey times, dropping from 71% to 68% in the last year.
Before the General Election, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh promised to redirect funding from the cancelled HS2 project to improve the UK’s road network.
What’s the worst motorway in your experience? Let us know in the comments!
