A30 rated England's best major A-road in satisfaction survey
South West drivers report higher satisfaction than national average
The A30 in South West England has been celebrated as the best major 'A' road in the country according to the latest survey from Transport Focus.
The watchdog’s Strategic Roads User Survey gathered opinions from over 9,500 drivers about their last journey on a motorway or major 'A' road managed by National Highways.
It revealed that the South West was the highest-rated National Highways region, with 75 per cent of drivers expressing satisfaction with their journey compared to the national average of 71 per cent.
Drivers in the area also rated journey time, road surface, and safety above the national averages.
Key findings for the South West
The A30 emerged as the highest-rated major 'A' road in England, boasting an overall satisfaction score of 79 per cent.
Other roads in the region also fared well, with the M5 scoring 78 per cent, the A303 74 per cent, and the A38 72 per cent - all surpassing the national average.
The A30's success follows significant investment and improvements, including the upcoming completion of the Chiverton to Carland Cross scheme in 2024 and the dualling of additional road sections.
A driver praised the A30, saying: “The road layout and surface is good due to being newly laid.”
Key findings for the South West
- Overall satisfaction in the South West was 75 per cent, above the national average of 71 per cent
- Satisfaction with journey time was 73 per cent, compared with 69 per cent nationally
- Satisfaction with road surface was 72 per cent, compared with 70 per cent nationally
- Satisfaction with management of roadworks was 52 per cent, compared with 50 per cent nationally
- Feeling safe was 84 per cent, compared with 81 per cent nationally
- The A30 was the highest-rated major ‘A’ road in England, scoring 79 per cent overall satisfaction
- The M5 scored 78 per cent, the A303 scored 74 per cent and the A38 scored 72 per cent
High levels of satisfaction
Louise Collins, Director at Transport Focus, highlighted the positive feedback, saying: "It's encouraging to see drivers in the South West continue to report high levels of satisfaction with their journeys on motorways and major 'A' roads. Roads such as the A30, M5 and A303 performed strongly in this year's survey, while drivers also rated journey time, road surface and feeling safe above the national average.
"The results show what road users value most: reliable journeys, good road surfaces and a network that works well day to day. As National Highways prepares for a major programme of renewals, maintaining that experience while minimising disruption will be increasingly important.
National Highways has a clear opportunity to build on what works well and keep disruption to a minimum."
National overview
Nationally, the survey reported a satisfaction increase to 71 per cent, particularly in areas such as journey time and road surface.
However, roadworks management scored lower, with satisfaction at 50 per cent. Drivers experiencing roadworks were notably less satisfied, at 58 per cent, compared to 77 per cent satisfaction among those who did not.
In comparison, the South West performed slightly better in roadworks management, scoring 52 per cent satisfaction.
Transport Focus continues to advocate for well-planned and less disruptive roadworks as National Highways embarks on widespread renewals across England’s road network.
These developments mark one of the largest renewal phases since the original construction of roads in the 1960s, with the survey serving as a crucial tool for improving driver experiences.