This particular stretch of the M5 scored a satisfaction rating of 82%. This represents an 8% increase compared to last year’s survey.
The survey consisted of 9,000 road users offering their thoughts on their last journey on a motorway or major ‘A’ road managed by National Highways.
Transport Focus says road users were most satisfied with the M5 due to the time their journey took, good traffic flow and the road not being too busy during their journey.
Coming second was the M40, which also scored 82% overall satisfaction. It too scored more than last year, when it received a 79% satisfaction rating.
As for ‘A’ roads, the A303 has been rated the best road in England. The road which connects the M3 and the A30 from London to Devon and Cornwall had the highest overall satisfaction at 85%.
The M6 was rated the least popular motorway with the lowest level of satisfaction (66%). One driver using the M6 said the road had “terrible tarmac conditions in places” as well as out of date matrix signs and “unwarranted smart motorway speed limits.”
The A27 received the lowest level of overall satisfaction (59%), followed by the A12 (61%).
Journeys on smart motorways had lower levels of satisfaction with road users than those that did not include a smart section (smart 69%; not smart 76%).
Commenting on the results of the survey, Anthony Smith, chief executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said:
“England’s motorways and major ‘A’ roads are at the heart of how many of us move around the country. It’s good to see the M5 and M40 perform well. As the so-called backbone of Britain, the M6 is a vital route which National Highways must continue to focus on delivering safe, smooth journeys. We’ll continue to keep pushing National Highways to improve these issues.”
Key findings, from the survey, as highlighted by Transport Focus, were as follows:
- overall, 73% of road users were satisfied with their last motorway or major ‘A’ road journey, an improvement on last year’s 69%
- 71% of users were satisfied with the time their journey took
- the management of roadworks was the lowest performing area, just 48% of those surveyed were satisfied
- drivers rated the M5 the best motorway with 82% satisfied overall
- the A303 had the highest overall satisfaction at 85%
- the A27 received the lowest level of overall satisfaction (59%), followed by the A12 (61%)
- of the motorways, the M6 had the lowest level of satisfaction (66%)
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