Motorists' satisfaction with English roads continues to decline according to latest research.
July 2025 - Transport & Infrastructure
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Motorists' satisfaction with English roads continues to decline according to latest research: Drivers in England are increasingly dissatisfied with the condition of their roads, with satisfaction ratings across all regions continuing to decline. The South West (75%) and the North West (71%) ranked highest (vs 76% and 73% in 2023/24), while the M25 region ranked lowest at 63% (vs 68% in 2023/24).
The Transport Focus annual Strategic Roads User Survey (SRUS) interviewed a representative sample of 9,419 drivers in England from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 to gather insights into their satisfaction with their journey experience — covering journey times, road surfaces, management of roadworks and feeling safe — on the English strategic network. Feedback was also used to rank the best and worst performing motorways and major A-roads in England.
The findings reveal that just over two-thirds (69%) of road users were satisfied with their last journey on a motorway or major A-road, down from 71% in 2023/24. Overall satisfaction with motorways decreased by 5% compared to the previous year (67% vs. 72%), while satisfaction with A-roads saw a slight increase (71% vs. 70% in 2023/24).
For the second consecutive year, the top-rated motorway was the M40 between London and Birmingham, with 75% satisfaction overall, while the lowest rated was the M1 between London and Leeds, at just 57%, down from 69% in 2023/24. The best ranked A-road was the A30 in the South West, with a satisfaction rating of 85%, while the lowest was the A47 in the East region at just 57%.
However, it is important to note that the report provides a key explanation for the overall decline in satisfaction in 2024/25. The National Emergency Area Retrofit (NEAR) programme, completed at the end of March 2025 to provide safe stopping places in emergencies on sections of smart motorways, caused satisfaction with journeys on affected motorways to fall by 13%, while satisfaction with the management of roadworks in general also declined during this period.
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