Motorway User Survey
England's Motorways See Modest Satisfaction Rise, But Regional Disparities and Roadworks Persist
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Key Points
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Essex’s A12 is among England’s lowest-rated routes, with 64% overall satisfaction and only 52% satisfied with the road surface; resurfacing work is ongoing between Chelmsford and Colchester to improve journeys.
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The A30, running from west London to Cornwall, was named England’s best A road with a 79% satisfaction rating.
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East of England region shows a relatively high satisfaction for the region at 72% (versus 71% nationally), with 70% satisfied with journey times and 82% feeling safe on the roads.
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Smart motorways have seen satisfaction rise to 66% this year, driven by completed work to retrofit 150 emergency refuge areas, though drivers still report safety concerns compared with conventional motorways (78% vs 82%).
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The Transport Focus poll surveyed more than 9,500 drivers about journeys on England’s motorways and major A roads to compile these results.
England's motorways and major A roads have an overall satisfaction rate of 71%, up from 69% last year, according to a new Transport Focus survey of more than 9,500 drivers. But the headline number masks a sharp divide — the worst road scored just 56%, while the best hit 79%.
The M27 in Hampshire was named England's worst motorway. Drivers blamed persistent roadworks and delays. At the other end, the M20 in Kent topped the rankings with 79% satisfaction.
M27 Earns Worst Motorway Title Amid Roadwork Chaos
Only 56% of drivers on the M27 said they were satisfied with their journey, the lowest score of any major road in England, according to Portsmouth. Roadworks have plagued the Hampshire motorway for years, causing repeated delays. Daily Echo reported that the low score reflects frustration that has built up over a long stretch of disruption.
National Highways points to a five-year renewal programme under the Road Investment Strategy as evidence that work is underway. But for drivers stuck in cones and queues, the results tell a different story. Roadworks remain the single biggest drag on satisfaction scores across the network.
North West Roads Split Between Best and Worst
The North West sits at 69% overall satisfaction — just below the national average. But within the region, the gap is striking. The M56 scores 78%, one of the strongest results in England. Meanwhile, the M60 — a key route for Bolton commuters — ranked 30th out of 32 roads with just 63%, according to The Bolton News.
Yorkshire Evening Post reported that the M62, a major route serving Leeds, also ranked among the roads drivers are least satisfied with. The results show that even within a single region, the experience of driving on England's major roads can vary enormously from one stretch to the next.
Essex A12 and Smart Motorways Still Frustrate Drivers
Essex's A12 is one of England's lowest-rated routes, with 64% overall satisfaction. Only 52% of drivers are happy with the road surface. Resurfacing work is currently underway between Chelmsford and Colchester. In contrast, the A30 — running from west London all the way to Cornwall — was rated England's best A road at 79%.
Smart motorways are slowly winning back trust. Satisfaction rose to 66% this year after 150 emergency refuge areas were added to the network. But drivers still rate smart motorways less safe than conventional ones — 78% feel safe on smart motorways compared with 82% on traditional roads. Concerns have not gone away.
East of England Leads Regions as Network Ages Nationwide
The East of England region scores 72% overall satisfaction, just above the national average of 71%. Drivers there report strong safety feelings — 82% say they feel safe on the roads. And 70% are satisfied with journey times. It is one of the brighter spots in an otherwise mixed picture across England.
Nationally, modest gains in journey times, road surfaces and roadworks management drove the overall improvement from 69% to 71%. But with roads ageing and maintenance backlogs growing, Transport Focus's results make clear that more work lies ahead before drivers are truly satisfied with the network they rely on every day.
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