Are the roads and traffic really that bad in the UK?
Discussion
Where I am in Canada the roads are truly truly horrendous, and I dream of driving on UK roads again! There's a reason every one drives a pickup truck (aside from most the population being farmers). However what can you expect for a HUGE area and only 1.2 million people living there. I will say that when they do re-pave highways, they do a decent job and very quickly at that.
kambites said:
Overall I think we have pretty poor roads for our GDP but not exceptionally so. The single biggest problem with our roads, at least in the south of England, is the combination of a terrible public transport system and very high population density - there are just too many cars.
Or, not enough roads...Edited by kambites on Sunday 2nd August 15:21
kambites said:
I've driven in at least twenty or thirty different countries and the UK is on average probably in the top five in terms of overall quality of actual roads.
We probably do have one of the most crowded road networks that I've experienced though, and certainly the one with the lowest number of traffic police per vehicle and the highest reliance on automated systems for policing the roads
A little insight, and why technology is used to try and control congestion for the majority rather than the odd people who want to batter through at any speed and bWe probably do have one of the most crowded road networks that I've experienced though, and certainly the one with the lowest number of traffic police per vehicle and the highest reliance on automated systems for policing the roads
ks to anyone elsehttp://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/08/02/meet...
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 2nd August 21:40
I notice a difference when heading back up to Scotland, almost as soon as you're past Carlisle, the roads get quieter and the driving less frenetic as a result
I also notice it when getting off the Ferry or Eurotunnel after having been in France, it just seems so much busier in England
I also notice it when getting off the Ferry or Eurotunnel after having been in France, it just seems so much busier in England
speedyguy said:
A little insight, and why technology is used to try and control congestion for the majority rather than the odd people who want to batter through at any speed and bks to anyone else
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/08/02/meet...
Read the headline and thought: but they're not keeping the roads congestion free.ks to anyone elsehttp://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/08/02/meet...
Edited by speedyguy on Sunday 2nd August 21:40
BenBuzz said:
Where I am in Canada the roads are truly truly horrendous, and I dream of driving on UK roads again! There's a reason every one drives a pickup truck (aside from most the population being farmers). However what can you expect for a HUGE area and only 1.2 million people living there. I will say that when they do re-pave highways, they do a decent job and very quickly at that.
You sure about the population of Canada?Ottawa alone isn't far off that, there's more like 35 million in the country as a whole.
Canada's roads are blissfully quiet, but like in many places where the population density is very low, the drivers are very hesitant and not very assertive by European standards.
Our roads are generally quite well designed considering the volume of traffic using them. I've seen plenty of poor junction designs in other places that would simply become gridlock with our traffic levels.
I think it's quite tiring to drive here compared to Canada where you can go for hours without seeing many cars, but then you're never far from anywhere here, which is a huge bonus.
Thankyou4calling said:
I'd say straight off you are falling into the trap of complaining about your perception but ignoring the facts.
Where do you drive where services are 50 miles apart? Generally they are 15 or 20 miles I find. Speed cameras can only serve to slow the speed if traffic is exceeding the limit so you are contradicting yourself. On the ne hand you are saying the roads are clogged, on the other you're moaning about speed cameras, which, if the roads are clogged will be an irrelevance surely?
I drive a 12-15 mile stretch of the M25 twice a day.Where do you drive where services are 50 miles apart? Generally they are 15 or 20 miles I find. Speed cameras can only serve to slow the speed if traffic is exceeding the limit so you are contradicting yourself. On the ne hand you are saying the roads are clogged, on the other you're moaning about speed cameras, which, if the roads are clogged will be an irrelevance surely?
Within that I can be at a stand-still and on a stretch where I could easily do 100mph if I wanted to on the same trip. There's your contradiction.
Yesterday I drove to Nottingham from London on the M1. On the way up it was congested most of the way and the journey took three hours. The congestion meant that I could only do 60mph for vast stretches - inbetween roadworks with a limit of 50 and a speed closer to 35.
That's Britain's main arterial motorway on a Saturday. Surely we could get that right?
On three separate sections there are now speed cameras which are always on and - as far as I know - active above 70. So rather than make the most of free-flowing traffic drivers are looking at their speedo or at posts on the road.
The contradiction seems to be, we can't do anything to relieve congestion, in fact we'll make it worse. And, while making it worse we'll stop you making progress in the roadworks despite nothing happening and we'll also continue to stop you making progress once the roadworks are finished because we'll install multiple speed cameras as part of the process.
For a Western nation we seem to do it pretty badly.
Most of Europe in my experience seems better. Better roads, better driving, better discipline, less autocracy. Even in Italy, renowned for insane drivers, at least you know they're mad rather than aggressive to the point of psychopathy.
So, in answer to your question, yes.
Most of the time UK roads aren't bad, nor too often particularly good. Investment in them hasn't kept pace with demand, particularly trunk routes and conurbations. It is getting noticeably worse.
They are suffering, along with a lot of our infrastructure, from underinvestment, unexpected demand and political timidity.
I'm puzzled why we didn't use some of the billions of extra money we printed to improve roads, power generation, telecomms and the like.
They are suffering, along with a lot of our infrastructure, from underinvestment, unexpected demand and political timidity.
I'm puzzled why we didn't use some of the billions of extra money we printed to improve roads, power generation, telecomms and the like.
Super Slo Mo said:
You sure about the population of Canada?
Ottawa alone isn't far off that, there's more like 35 million in the country as a whole.
Canada's roads are blissfully quiet, but like in many places where the population density is very low, the drivers are very hesitant and not very assertive by European standards.
Our roads are generally quite well designed considering the volume of traffic using them. I've seen plenty of poor junction designs in other places that would simply become gridlock with our traffic levels.
I think it's quite tiring to drive here compared to Canada where you can go for hours without seeing many cars, but then you're never far from anywhere here, which is a huge bonus.
I've driven a fair bit in Canada though mainly on urban roads and the overriding memory for me is the signposting. Ottawa alone isn't far off that, there's more like 35 million in the country as a whole.
Canada's roads are blissfully quiet, but like in many places where the population density is very low, the drivers are very hesitant and not very assertive by European standards.
Our roads are generally quite well designed considering the volume of traffic using them. I've seen plenty of poor junction designs in other places that would simply become gridlock with our traffic levels.
I think it's quite tiring to drive here compared to Canada where you can go for hours without seeing many cars, but then you're never far from anywhere here, which is a huge bonus.
It is ABSOLUTELY APOALING! Same as in the States. The signs on the freeways barely give you time to get n lane and if you are in the off lane you are going off no matter what. Leave Vancouver and see if you can pick up a sign to a decent size town 20 miles away. Nor a chance whereas in the UK the road signs are superb.
feef said:
I notice a difference when heading back up to Scotland, almost as soon as you're past Carlisle, the roads get quieter and the driving less frenetic as a result
I also notice it when getting off the Ferry or Eurotunnel after having been in France, it just seems so much busier in England
Agreed I also notice it when getting off the Ferry or Eurotunnel after having been in France, it just seems so much busier in England
The UK accident rate is world leading, mlm's are annoying but they don't kill people hence I'd argue UK drivers are amongst the best.
UK road standards are again world leading, levels of lighting and signage and markings are pretty good, slip roads very gently curved. The surfaces of main roads run by the highways agency are pretty good. It's the council run ones (most of the roads) that let the side down.
The big issue with the UK is we don't have enough main roads, too many towns and cities aren't properly bypassed or those bypasses that do exist have to msn at grade junctions. We wonder why the UK has a productivity gap I'd suggest some of it is due to our lack of roads, we have far few that equivalently dense nations in Europe.
UK road standards are again world leading, levels of lighting and signage and markings are pretty good, slip roads very gently curved. The surfaces of main roads run by the highways agency are pretty good. It's the council run ones (most of the roads) that let the side down.
The big issue with the UK is we don't have enough main roads, too many towns and cities aren't properly bypassed or those bypasses that do exist have to msn at grade junctions. We wonder why the UK has a productivity gap I'd suggest some of it is due to our lack of roads, we have far few that equivalently dense nations in Europe.
s m said:
feef said:
I notice a difference when heading back up to Scotland, almost as soon as you're past Carlisle, the roads get quieter and the driving less frenetic as a result
I also notice it when getting off the Ferry or Eurotunnel after having been in France, it just seems so much busier in England
Agreed I also notice it when getting off the Ferry or Eurotunnel after having been in France, it just seems so much busier in England
Also on the mountain roads generally the slower cars are very easy to get past and don't speed up.
My 10 mile commute to work takes 15 mins during the school holiday most of that being 30-50mph road even when the holidays are over normally takes about 18mins. When you here of similar commutes in London taking hrs does make you think how lucky I am.
Yes some drivers are pretty poor and some roads are similar too but overall theres not many countries I rather drive through.
In the last year I've probably done around 30,000 miles on car and bike, half of which is probably spent in Europe.
The problem in the UK is space. Not a lot of space with lots of drivers. In Europe, you can just overtake someone on the most part as there will always be space a few miles up the road if not sooner.
Also, for some reason, in the UK more so people turn into animals behind the wheel. This is isn't the case for everyone, but lots of people are rude, rage, and not well trained. Motorway discipline is terrible. Overtake, then get in the left most lane. What is difficult about that? It is so rare to follow, or be followed by a car using their lanes correctly like you.
The fact is, you could go do your test in London and travel a couple of miles in stop start traffic and then passed your test to do what you want.
The problem in the UK is space. Not a lot of space with lots of drivers. In Europe, you can just overtake someone on the most part as there will always be space a few miles up the road if not sooner.
Also, for some reason, in the UK more so people turn into animals behind the wheel. This is isn't the case for everyone, but lots of people are rude, rage, and not well trained. Motorway discipline is terrible. Overtake, then get in the left most lane. What is difficult about that? It is so rare to follow, or be followed by a car using their lanes correctly like you.
The fact is, you could go do your test in London and travel a couple of miles in stop start traffic and then passed your test to do what you want.
Probably not the best title to use, perhaps it should have been 'Are roads and traffic really that bad in the UK considering how much motorists pay in taxes to drive on UK roads?'
Having driven from the UK into France several times I find the roads in France so much smoother with far less traffic on the roads, anyone who has travelled into France via the Eurotunnel onto the motorway will probably confirm that it's quite easy to do, and driving along smooth roads in France is so very relaxing, now compare that to any poor sod from France travelling north when he hits the congested M25.
Most councils in the UK are cutting back on road maintenance to the point that road lineage has almost worn out, yet they still expect the motorist to obey the line markings no matter how poor they are, though with the rise in the number of motorist fitting dash cameras this attitude may change. Now if certain overpaid jobsworths took a wage cut then perhaps more paint could be applied to the roads. As it stands this type of attitude towards improving roads is alien to the taxpayer funded jobsworths, whose only reason is currently to exist is to feather their own nest.
I always find it odd that in these times of austerity they always seem to find the money for speed camera vans...
Having driven from the UK into France several times I find the roads in France so much smoother with far less traffic on the roads, anyone who has travelled into France via the Eurotunnel onto the motorway will probably confirm that it's quite easy to do, and driving along smooth roads in France is so very relaxing, now compare that to any poor sod from France travelling north when he hits the congested M25.
Most councils in the UK are cutting back on road maintenance to the point that road lineage has almost worn out, yet they still expect the motorist to obey the line markings no matter how poor they are, though with the rise in the number of motorist fitting dash cameras this attitude may change. Now if certain overpaid jobsworths took a wage cut then perhaps more paint could be applied to the roads. As it stands this type of attitude towards improving roads is alien to the taxpayer funded jobsworths, whose only reason is currently to exist is to feather their own nest.
I always find it odd that in these times of austerity they always seem to find the money for speed camera vans...
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