Four in five (82%) of road users are satisfied with their last journey using a motorway or major ‘A’ road managed by Highways England, a new survey by independent watchdog Transport Focus has found.

Satisfaction with journey time is also 82%, but road surface quality fares less well at 79%. The management of roadworks is lower – 65% of those surveyed were satisfied and only half (51%) were satisfied with this activity in the south east region.

Most drivers – 93% - are satisfied with how safe they feel on Highways England’s roads. Information on permanent road signs scores well at 89% satisfaction. Information provided on electronic signage fares less well at 83%. 

Launching the Strategic Roads User Survey results for April to August 2018 at the Highways UK conference in Birmingham today (Wednesday, November 7).

Anthony Smith, chief executive of independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: “Our new Strategic Roads User Survey offers the most significant and robust picture ever of driver satisfaction on the motorways and major ‘A’ roads maintained by Highways England.  

“This new survey provides a detailed picture at regional and individual road level about the experience of all drivers, whether in cars, vans, lorries or coaches – as well as motorcyclists.

“It makes it possible for those who manage specific roads to find out what users think on a range of key issues and identify where they need to prioritise improvements.

“Every year this survey will gather insight from interviews with over 8000 road users across the motorway and major ‘A’ road network managed by Highways England.”

The results it generates will be displayed on a new digital platform, providing a wealth of data about customer satisfaction - at individual road, regional and national level - that anyone from a fleet manager to a leisure driver can access and explore using comparison tools that are easy to use.

For more information visit, www.transportfocus.org.uk/data-hub.

Which Highways England regions have the highest satisfaction rating among road users ?

Overall: SW and NE

Highest satisfaction with journey time: SW and NE

Highest satisfaction with road surface quality: NE and M25 region

Highest road works management:  NE and SW

Highest satisfaction with feeling safe:  East and NE

 

Road level figures (for roads with sufficient responses after five months of the survey operating)

Highest overall satisfaction with journey: M5 and A1 (lowest M1)

Highest satisfaction with journey time:  A1 and M5 (lowest M6)

Highest satisfaction with surface quality:  A1 (lowest M6)

Highest feeling of safety: M5 (lowest M25)