THE state of the UK’s crumbling roads is driving residents around the bend, with motorists in major cities growing increasingly frustrated by the deteriorating conditions.
Motoring experts have unveiled the cities where frustration with potholes and congestion is at its peak – revealing that these issues are playing a significant role in one in three Brits losing their passion for driving.
A pothole plague and bumper-to-bumper congestion – why millions of Brits are falling out of love with driving this summer[/caption]
Driving in the UK has gone from a symbol of freedom to a stressful chore, as worsening roads leave motorists fed up[/caption]
As it’s the summer, many motorists are preparing to pack up their cars and head off on their family holidays.
But according to a new report from car finance giant Carmoola, millions are simply dreading getting behind the wheel – due to the country’s worsening roads and traffic.
A particular issue is the UK’s so-called “pothole plague”, contributing to a third of drivers (32%) saying they no longer enjoy driving.
Hot-headed road users – described as “aggressive or impatient drivers” – are the main reason half (49%) of Brits have become disillusioned, while 46% claim the stress of driving has taken all the joy out of it.
Aidan Rushby, chief executive of Carmoola, said: “We have uncovered a very human truth.
“That driving, once a symbol of freedom and adventure, has become something many people now dread.”
Belfast drivers are the most ticked off when it comes to the conditions of their roads, with 26% saying they’re overly frustrated with the state of potholes.
Meanwhile, when it comes to congestion, 38% of Glaswegians say bumper-to-bumper congestion is what riles them up the most.
These statistics highlight why only a quarter of road users view driving as a source of escape, while 34% see it merely as a practical means to get from A to B.
Indeed, many say they simply find driving boring and would choose almost anything else above getting behind the wheel.
To that end, 20% would rather organise their sock drawer and 15% say they would sit through a three-hour meeting instead.
13% would prefer to watch paint dry and 9% would opt to do a tax return.
UK’S WORST AREAS FOR POTHOLE FRUSTRATION REVEALED
- Belfast – 26%
- Nottingham – 22%
- Plymouth – 22%
- Birmingham – 20%
- Manchester – 19%
- Newcastle – 18%
- Cardiff – 17%
- Southampton – 17%
- London – 17%
- Bristol – 16%
- Edinburgh – 15%
- Glasgow – 15%
- Brighton – 13%
- Norwich – 12%
- Liverpool – 11%
- Leeds – 9%
- Sheffield – 9%
POTHOLE PLAGUE
Back in March, it was found that our pothole-plagued roads will take 12 years and nearly £17billion to fix, according to a report.
More than half of local streets have less than 15 years of life left, says a survey by the Asphalt Industry Alliance.
But, on average, they are re-surfaced only once every 93 years.
AIA boss David Giles laid bare the scale of the problem, explaining how, despite £20billion being thrown at road maintenance in the past decade, the short-term approach has failed.
He said: “There have been no significant improvements in structural road conditions.”
The AIA claims getting roads back to ideal condition would take 12 years and cost a corking £16.81 billion.
Its survey also found 94 per cent of local authority highway teams believe there has been no improvement to their roads over the past year, with two thirds saying they have got worse.
And despite councils spending £137.4million filling 1.9million potholes last year, the repair backlog continues to balloon.
The Department for Transport said: “We’re investing £1.6billion to help councils resurface local roads and fix the equivalent of up to seven million extra potholes over the next financial year.”
JOY-RIDING
With 60% of lapsed drivers saying they wish they could rediscover the joy of driving, Carmoola has launched its ‘Joy Ride’ service – an initiative designed to inject some much-needed cheer back into everyday journeys.
A series of Joys – women joyful by name and nature (pic attached) – took over one of Britain’s dullest-sounding streets: Mundania Road in East Dulwich (pic of them there attached), London, joining real drivers for their daily routes, dancing, chatting and singing along the way, transforming routine trips into unexpectedly uplifting experiences.
“We believe driving can and should be something people look forward to – not something that adds stress to their day,” adds Carmoola’s Rushby.
“That’s why we created Joy Rides: to remind people what driving can feel like when it’s filled with laughter, company, and a bit of unexpected delight. Sometimes, a little joy is all it takes to make driving feel fun again.
“And for 3.26 million Brits, the thing that’s reduced their enjoyment of driving is not owning the car they really want. We’ve seen first hand the joy that a dream car can bring – which is exactly why we’re on a mission to make car ownership simpler, more empowering, and more joyful for everyone.”
