Scottish drivers most dissatisfied in UK

SCOTTISH drivers had a higher dissatisfaction rate with roads than in other parts of the UK, according to a recent AA poll which showed that 92 per cent surveyed said that conditions had “deteriorated”.

Those AA members interviewed were asked: “Thinking of the area you live in, would you say that the condition of local roads in terms of surface and potholes has improved, deteriorated or stayed the same over the last three years?”

A total of 92 per cent of Scots said roads north of the Border had deteriorated during the three winters up to early 2011, compared to a figure of 74 per cent for London.

Yorkshire and Humberside had the second-highest rates of dissatisfaction at 88 per cent, followed by the north east and north west of England, both on at 86 per cent.

Wales achieved a 83 per cent dissatisfaction rating, with Northern Ireland on 76 per cent.

The overall results of the AA/Populus poll, published in February last year, showed that 81 per cent of AA members think the roads have deteriorated in the last three years, with 57 per cent of respondents saying conditions had deteriorated significantly, and almost a quarter saying conditions had deteriorated slightly.

Only 1 per cent thought conditions had improved considerably, and 6 per cent thought they showed slight improvement, with 12 per cent saying conditions were unchanged.

Edmund King, AA president, speaking at the time of the poll, said: “We have to keep up the battle against this blight which damages cars and risks road safety, especially for those on two wheels.

“An emergency pothole fund is urgently needed to help cash-strapped local authorities to patch up the roads. However, a more coherent maintenance strategy and long-term increased funding is required.”