In the latest survey from independent watchdog Transport Focus, nearly 1,400 freight and coach vehicle managers were asked for their views on how motorways and major A roads meet their business needs.
The results show that 46% of businesses are satisfied with how these roads meet their business needs, while 25% are dissatisfied and 29% are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.
As well as satisfaction overall, they were asked about the quality of information, response to accidents, road surface quality and rest facilities for drivers. According to the results, rest facilities and clearing up after accidents had the lowest satisfaction rating.
While the availability of live travel information was rated better than information for planning ahead, less than half of respondents said they were satisfied. Information about roads not opening on time after roadworks rated lower still.
When asked about aspects of National Highways’ day-to-day management of its network, road safety came out on top with over half – 57% – rating it positively.
Asked what they want to be done better, businesses said:
- where possible roadworks should be delivered in shorter lengths – and if that isn’t possible they want a greater sense of pace to project delivery
- clear and accurate information about planned road closures, including when roadworks are not going to finish on time
- improved roadside facilities for lorries to stop, including facilities for drivers and protection against theft and vandalism.
“Freight and coach businesses, whose work is vital to our lives and the economy, have told us clearly that there is more to do to meet their needs,” commented Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus. “We’ll continue our work with National Highways to keep these issues top of mind and get the improvements that these key users of England’s major roads want.”
Transport Focus carries out the survey three times a year, the next survey will take place in June.