Skip advert
Advertisement

England’s roads are officially getting worse

Latest official figures show declining number of surveyed roads that don’t require attention

Pothole

If you thought the condition of roads in England couldn’t get any worse, data just released from local authorities and National Highways suggests you’re at least partly right; the percentage of A-roads labelled ‘red’ - those that should have been considered for maintenance following automated or visual surveys - remained static in 2024 at four per cent.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The percentage of ‘red’ B and C-roads has also remained unchanged at seven per cent, according to data compiled by the Department for Transport (DfT), but there’s been a significant rise in the number of ‘amber’ classifications across both all A, B and C-roads in England. Between 2020 and 2024, the incidence of ‘amber’ roads - those likely to require maintenance soon - has risen from 24 to 27 per cent, suggesting we’re storing up more trouble ahead. Meanwhile, the proportion of roads surveyed being classified ‘green’ - no further work or investigation needed - has fallen back from 72 per cent in 2022 to 68 per cent in 2024.

According to the DfT’s interactive map, the worst offenders for poor A-roads in ‘red’ condition are Derbyshire in the East Midlands, and various London boroughs including Merton, Newham and Brent, followed by Shropshire in the West Midlands, Bradford and Liverpool. Derbyshire is also among the worst offenders for B and C-roads, along with Dorset and Devon.

The figures are compiled as a percentage of total road length, rather than by numbers of roads, and the DfT’s latest report points out that user perception may not align with statistical measures - not least because drivers may be heavily influenced by the condition of unclassified roads, which are surveyed less frequently.

Responding to the figures, the RAC’s head of policy Simon Williams said it’s “concerning to see that more roads that were in reasonable ‘green’ condition have now deteriorated. “We badly need to end the decline in the condition of our local roads, so we hope the Government’s new approach to highways funding will enable councils to plan longer-term maintenance that finally addresses this,” he continued. Williams also said he’s encouraged that the government is talking about the need for preventative maintenance as key to improving conditions for the future.

Want the latest car news in your inbox? Sign up to the free Auto Express email newsletter...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Current affairs and features editor

Chris covers all aspects of motoring life for Auto Express. Over a long career he has contributed news and car reviews to brands such as Autocar, WhatCar?, PistonHeads, Goodwood and The Motor Trader.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering
Opinion - Shanghai Auto Show

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering

This new brand of cars might have battery tech on their side, but European buyers want much more than that
Opinion
25 Apr 2025
Leapmotor B05 family hatch on route to the UK with sub-£30k price and 400-mile range
Leapmotor badge

Leapmotor B05 family hatch on route to the UK with sub-£30k price and 400-mile range

The Stellantis-backed brand will launch a Volkswagen ID.3-rivalling small car with almost 20 per cent more range
News
23 Apr 2025
Buying a modern used car for under £10k is almost impossible
Opinion - £10k used cars

Buying a modern used car for under £10k is almost impossible

Phil McNamara discovers that it’s harder than ever to find a good-value car at the affordable end of the market
Opinion
24 Apr 2025