An annual Local Authority road maintenance (Alarm) Survey has found that roads are resurfaced once every 65 years, on average, the RAC Foundation has reported.
The RAC Foundation is therefore concerned that high fuel costs and increases to VED road tax are not translating into highway improvements, national road planning schemes or improving the roads network. In 2007, only 26 per cent of the revenue from motorists was re-invested back into driving improvements.
Stephen Glaister, director of the Royal Automobile Club Foundation said: "There is no way for the motoring public to assess what their taxes are buying them and this needs to change.
"The only target developed by government to assess how congestion is changing on the worst parts of our motorway network has not been met, which demonstrates that investing in and planning for new capacity is essential. Present high oil prices, which will cause a temporary fall in demand for road space, could allow the government the breathing space to plan improvements to the network. Continued complacency is not an option. In the meantime UK motorists are suffering significant price increases for a declining level of service. This is not acceptable and the government must develop and share their plans for action."
Reuters has reported that it is just as damaging to the environment to be stuck in a traffic jam producing increased CO2 as it is to drive at high speed.
