THE condition of British roads is way behind our European counterparts despite UK motorists paying the highest tax in Europe.

This is the finding from a recent survey which shows that the UK’s road network has increased by less than 1% over the past decade despite levels of traffic surging by 36%. Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said: ‘We appear to be unfairly disadvantaged on every level in comparison to our European neighbours.

‘We pay the highest taxes, have the most congested roads and the least investment.’

The Road Fact File 2004, published by the Road Users’ Alliance, shows that £6.7 billion was spent on UK roads in 2003 despite UK road users forking out £42.2 billion in tax, £22.1 billion in fuel tax, £4.6 billion in excise duty, £6.8 billion in vehicle VAT, £5.6 billion in fuel VAT and £3.1 billion in company car tax. King added: ‘The UK claims to be the fourth largest economy in the world – surely we can afford a decent road system?’