If you’ve spent any time on the UK’s roads this year, you’ve probably found yourself stuck in traffic, crawling past cones or sent on an endless detour to avoid road closures. And while many of our roads have improved vastly over the past few years, some still aren’t up to scratch.
In its annual Strategic Road User Survey, travel watchdog Transport Focus has uncovered how UK drivers really feel about the roads they use. Among other questions, they asked 9,000 motorists – across a one-year period – to rate their overall satisfaction with Britain’s roads. You probably won’t be surprised by what came bottom of the pile.
As experts in short-term car leasing, we know how important it is to get from A to B quickly, comfortably and safely. So, we’ve done the research for you and compiled a list of the five worst motorways in Britain.
Read on to find out the UK’s worst motorways. There may be some you want to avoid.
5. M42
Coming in as the fifth least satisfactory motorway in the UK is the M42. Running north-east for approximately 55 miles from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire to Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire, the road serves much of the Greater Birmingham area – and with a population of more than two million, it’s bound to be busy.
Aside from daily incidents and night-time road closures, the M42 has had its fair share of roadworks in an attempt to improve the stretch – which has likely contributed to its low score.
4. M4
Britain’s third-largest motorway – and one of the worst roads in the country – the M4 runs from West London all the way through to Pont Abraham services in southwest Wales. The road passes major cities like Reading and Swindon before crossing the Severn, which only adds to the traffic load.
As well as scoring low on overall satisfaction, drivers also expressed frustration with journey times. With several works still ongoing – and more on the horizon – it looks like the M4 isn’t coming off the worst roads in Britain list any time soon.
3. M25
Coming right in the middle of our list of Britain’s worst motorways is the M25. The iconic London Orbital encircles the capital – and for that reason, it’s usually packed. Constant efforts to maintain and improve parts of the road are welcome, but they often cause delays. Couple that with collisions, night-time closures, and the odd protester, and you’ve got yourself a strong contender for one of the worst roads in Britain.
While it’s often impossible to avoid, we do advise our short-term car leasing customers to choose a different route where possible – and steer clear of the unpredictable nature of the M25.
2. M27
One of the shorter motorways on our worst roads in Britain list, the M27 snakes its way from Cadnam, past Southampton and on to Portsmouth. Sounds harmless, right? Well, not according to UK drivers.
The 27-mile stretch scored poorly on feeling of safety, journey time and overall satisfaction – but it came right at the bottom for road surface. Meaning, if you’re in a premium car – or if you want to take care of your beloved motor – you may think twice about using it.
1. M1
And finally, number five – and the worst-ranking motorway in Transport Focus’s report – is the M1. The mammoth 193-mile M1 connects London to Leeds and, while on a good day it can be a breeze, catch it on a bad one and you’ll be sorry you pulled the car out of the driveway.
While safety and road surface scored well with survey respondents, it was journey time and overall satisfaction that really dragged the M1 down our list. But is it surprising? With multiple roadworks taking place at once – and between 130,000 to 140,000 daily users – it’s a recipe for disaster.
A few special mentions for the worst roads in Britain
As short-term car leasing and car subscription experts, both we and our customers spend a lot of time on the road – so we’re probably overqualified to judge the worst roads in Britain. And while our list has focused on the motorways, we know it’s not exhaustive – so here are a few special mentions, according to the Transport Focus survey:
- The worst road in Britain: A47
- The road that ranked the best: A30
- The region with the most satisfaction: the South West
- The region with the worst satisfaction: the M25 area
Driving on the worst roads in Britain
Hopefully, now you know the worst roads in Britain – and you might think twice about using them. Of course, on a good day they can be perfectly fine, and often you just can’t avoid them. In that case, just remember to plan ahead, stop frequently and drive safely.
If you do have to drive on one of the worst roads in Britain, you may as well do it in a car you love, right? At Flexed, we offer flexible and affordable short-term leasing on cars you’ll love to drive. From estates to EVs and everything in between, we have the latest makes and models to suit everyone. Leasing a car has never been easier.
If you’d like more information on our latest offers, or if you have questions about how it all works, get in touch here or call 0800 311 8290 – we’re always happy to help.
