6 September 2011
It's clear from feedback on issues such as lack of grit or potholes that AA members are genuinely concerned about the state of local roads. This is why we started AA Streetwatch surveys in 2010 – regular surveys to give a unique insight into the 'true state of the nation's' roads.
We expect AA Streetwatch to grow and become the most comprehensive regular survey of its type.
Observations by AA Members volunteering to give up a little of their time a couple of times a year will help us to develop trend data that we can use to influence national and local government to improve the situation for all road users.
Streetwatch surveys will pioneer a local community spirit to show how simple, often easily fixable, problems can tarnish an area's image. The surveys will also provide a regular benchmark of community issues in the light of local authority budget cut backs.
Good on you AA for doing this survey – great idea!"
"Enjoyed the exercise and would be keen to participate in future"
"Get as many people out doing this. I took my grandchildren and as well as exercise they enjoyed the whole experience"
Sunken drain
The first Streetwatch survey took place in late-October/early-November 2010 when 1,912 AA members each walked a local route for about 60 minutes taking in a range of road types including local footways checking for:
• Broken kerbs
• Blocked street drains
• Obscured road signs
• Uneven footpaths
• Roadworks
• Potholes
• Sunken utility trenches
• Worn road markings
• Sunken inspection covers
• Litter
• Dog fouling
Road junction
Responding to feedback from the first survey – Members were asked to highlight the biggest concerns locally and suggest ideas for future surveys – the second AA Streetwatch survey (mid-April/early-May 2011) looked at driver behaviour.
Volunteers each observed around 100 vehicles passing through a local junction and made a note of seatbelt wearing, mobile phone use, indicator use, speed and defective brake lights.
Big pothole count
For the third Streetwatch survey we are going back to the subject of the first - the state of streets local to your home. The survey should only take an hour and may require you to walk a mile or two but will give valuable information about how the state of our roads has changed in the past year - in an AA/Populus survey 81% of members told us that the roads have deterioriated in the last three years.
