UK roads pale in comparison to their European counterparts, according to drivers.
Six in 10 (62%) motorists say local roads in Europe are in better condition with fewer potholes than equivalent roads in the UK, according to new research from RAC Europe. Only a fifth (17%) say UK roads are in better shape than those on the continent.
More than half (57%) of drivers also think there are fewer, less severe potholes on Europe’s motorways than on the UK’s high-speed equivalents, both of which carry millions of drivers a day. Just one in five (19%) said the UK fares better while 14% said there was little or no difference.
Of the five aspects of driving the RAC asked drivers to compare between the UK and Europe, the UK scored highest on just one – the ease of understanding road signs, with a third (30%) saying they find signage more straightforward at home. However, a much greater proportion (55%) believe there is little difference and one in 10 (10%) say they find European road signs easier to read.
In contrast, 37% of drivers thought painted road markings – such as junctions and give way lines – were easier to see on foreign roads while 32% saw little difference, compared to a fifth (21%) of drivers who think painted markings are more visible in the UK.
Meanwhile, a third (34%) feel roadside litter is much less of an issue abroad than it is this side of the Channel, with just 11% saying they think UK roads are cleaner than those in Europe.
RAC Europe spokesman Rod Dennis said: “There’s much talk about just how dire the state of the UK’s local roads are, but to hear drivers think they are significantly worse than elsewhere in Europe is shocking. This begs the question: if other countries can manage to have decent quality highways to drive on, why can’t we?
“It’s even more concerning from a safety perspective to learn just how many drivers think the UK’s motorways are plagued with potholes compared to the smooth surfaces of their European counterparts, as it’s these high-speed routes that carry most traffic.
“Aside from having fewer potholes, European roads also come up trumps for their lack of litter and better visibility of road markings. So, it’s not just better weather drivers are benefitting from when they’re abroad – the condition of the roads makes them safer to drive on too.”
