Drivers have rated the M42 as the worst motorway in England in a new survey from the independent watchdog, Transport Focus. 

Road surface quality and journey times have deteriorated in the last year, according to respondents

The 40-mile stretch, which runs from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire to just south west of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire, came bottom in a driver survey, scoring just 56% for overall satisfaction from road users.

A long period of roadworks around Birmingham airport is believed to have particularly exasperated drivers and one respondent said: “Roadworks, potholes and delays. Terrible road to drive on.”

The M40 came out top of the list of motorways in the Strategic Roads User Survey with overall satisfaction at 79%, although this is down from 82% last year. Last year’s winner, the M5, fell from 82% to 77%, putting it in fourth place.

The A19 was rated the best A-road in England with the highest overall satisfaction at 85%.

Perhaps unsurprisingly for anyone using the A12, the London to Suffolk highway received the lowest overall satisfaction rating from road users (55%), followed by the A27 (63%).

Overall, more than 9,000 road users filled out the survey about their last journey on a motorway or major A-road managed by National Highways.

Key findings also include that 71% of road users were satisfied with their journey overall; a decrease from 73% last year. Road user satisfaction with journey time has also declined, down to 68% from 71% last year, while satisfaction with road surface quality has fallen to 68% compared with 73% last year.

Management of roadworks continues to be one of the weaker performing areas, with 49% of drivers that passed through roadworks on their journey satisfied with their management, similar to last year.

Across the seven National Highways regions, the South West was the highest rated with an overall user satisfaction score of 76%. The M25 region was lowest at 68%.

The most improved region is the North West. It is the only region to have seen an increase in overall satisfaction and has moved from joint bottom in 2022/2023 on 70%, to second on 73%.

Alex Robertson, chief executive at independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: ”Drivers tell us that the maintenance of motorways and major roads – how most of us get around the country – is more important to them than building new roads.

“With road user perceptions of road surface quality deteriorating since 2022 and declining satisfaction with journey times, National Highways must continue to focus on delivering safe, smooth journeys.

“We’re committed to working with the Government and National Highways to help them to deliver on road users’ top priorities – improved journey times and satisfaction with surface quality.”

UK’s best and worst motorways and A-roads for 2023/4

The full Strategic Roads User Survey for 2023/4 is online here.