Roads in worst state for years

AA calls in Emergency Pothole Fund

23 February 2011

Harsh winter weather over three years has clearly taken its toll and Britain's roads have been under attack from frost and thaw which weakens vulnerable sections of road.

According to a new AA/Populus poll* 81% of AA members think the roads have deteriorated in the last three years with 57% of respondents saying conditions had deteriorated significantly and almost a quarter saying conditions had deteriorated slightly.

Only 1% thought conditions had improved considerably and 6% thought they showed slight improvement. 12% of those who responded thought conditions were unchanged.

Comment

Edmund King, AA President, said: "We have to keep up the battle against this blight which damages cars and risks road safety, especially for those on two wheels.

"An emergency pothole fund is urgently needed to help cash-strapped local authorities to patch up the roads. However a more coherent maintenance strategy and long term increased funding is required to stop the rot."

Regional breakdown

The AA/Populus panel was asked:

Thinking of the area you live in, would you say that the condition of local roads in terms of surface and pot-holes has improved, deteriorated or stayed the same over the last three years?

(Ordered 'best' to 'worst' by percentage saying that road conditions have deteriorated)

  • London – 74% (including 51% saying deteriorated considerably)
  • South West – 74% (47% saying deteriorated considerably)
  • South – 75% (48% saying deteriorated considerably)
  • N. Ireland – 76% (49% saying deteriorated considerably)
  • East Midlands – 77% (50% saying deteriorated considerably)
  • East Anglia – 78% (49% saying deteriorated considerably)
  • West Midlands – 80% (56% saying deteriorated considerably)
  • Wales – 83% (59% saying deteriorated considerably)
  • North East – 86% (66% saying deteriorated considerably)
  • North West – 86% (65% saying deteriorated considerably)
  • Yorkshire & Humberside – 88% (68% saying deteriorated considerably)
  • Scotland – 92% (79% saying deteriorated considerably)