According to the latest RAC report on motoring, road conditions have become a top concern for most drivers – a first for the annual report. Just under 60% of drivers now say that the state of the roads is their biggest worry, up from 49% in 2023.
More drivers also report that their local roads are in worse condition than a year ago. This year, nearly three-quarters (73%) of drivers expressed dissatisfaction with the state of their local roads, compared to 67% last year and just 49% in 2019. In contrast, only 6% of drivers believe road conditions have improved since last year.
This frustration has overtaken other concerns by a wide margin, with road condition ranking 21% higher than the second-biggest worry, the cost of vehicle insurance.
The impact of the worsening road condition is clear, as more than a quarter (27%) of drivers reported vehicle damage caused by potholes in the last 12 months. This figure jumps to 32% for those living in rural areas.
Cllr Claire Holland, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: “Limited resources and a £16.3 billion local roads repair backlog means councils have had to prioritise road repairs according to local circumstances.
“Inflation and ongoing pressures from other council services mean that money for fixing potholes is constrained. Many factors affect repair rates, such as the road profile, traffic levels and available budgets.
“As this report highlights, the new government should commit to maintain the previous administration’s spending plans for local highways maintenance, alongside the need for long-term funding certainty, to help better support resurfacing schemes and prevent potholes in the first place.”
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