Tuesday 27th July 2010

M25: Officially The Worst Road In Britain

London orbital comes out worst (best?) in top 10 most-horrible roads

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The M25 in flowing-traffic shock...

The M25 has been officially named as the most depressing road in Britain.

London's 117-mile loop of hell - sorry, orbital motorway - has been the subject of muttered curses by millions of motorists since its completion and has finally won official recognition after a 3000-respondent survey by Motorcycle News put it at the top of a list of the UK's 10 most hated roads.

The M25 beat off competition from The M6 near Birmingham (2nd) and the A1 Holloway Road in north London (3rd) courtesy of its special mix of endless traffic jams, tattered road surfaces and numerous speed cameras.

Below is the full top 10 who's who of hateful roads - is your favourite in there?

1. The M25
2. The M6 around Birmingham
3. The A1 Holloway Road, London
4. The M5 near Bristol
5. The M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh
6. The A12
7. The M5 northbound between junctions 12 and 10
8. The A361 near Glastonbury in Somerset
9. The A30 near Bodmin in Cornwall
10. The A338 between Great Shefford and junction 14 of the M4

You can check out the survey in more detail on MCN's website

[Baked_bean]

after spending many a hour trawling it at 5mph i agree.

[furtive]

Still, just think about how bad your journeys would be if it didn't exist...

[dilbert]

I'm surprised about the A30. I really like that road.
Loads of hills, plenty of fast bends, proper dual carriageway.
It has loads of variety in weather effects too. Lovely on a nice day, challenging on a bad one.

Edited by dilbert on Tuesday 27th July 13:30

[mk1chopper]

The A30 is only a hell road during change over days during school holidays

[SirRalph]

Makes you proud to be British...

[nickpan]

It would be good to know how people who drove cars rated our roads.

[Morningside]

The M25.
Was a great road until ruined by varing speed limits and constant so-called repairs. Remember using it in 1987 onwards (ie when 1st finished) and it was fantastic! Also, unless you were driving like a total loon the Police did leave you alone.


The A12.
Agree with that. Once you hit that A14 crossing at Ipswich heading north its all roundabouts, tractors and old biddies doing 45.

Many, many times we have been 'promised' upgrades/motorway status and bypasses by subsequent Govenments and still nothing.

9. The A30 near Bodmin in Cornwall
Agree. What a nightmare that is.

Can I also add the A303.

Edited by Morningside on Tuesday 27th July 13:51

[heebeegeetee]

Hmm

I think this confirms that the most dangerous aka interesting roads are oop norf, whereas almost all of the most boring/shandy-like ones are dahn sarf.

[Snoggledog]

Another vote for the A303 here.

Surprised the M8 got a mention. It's only st when it gets close to Glasgow. Apart from that it's just another motorway.

The M25 though.. I hate to think how many days of my life I've lost sitting in traffic or crawling through roadworks.

[dilbert]

Snoggledog said:

Another vote for the A303 here.

Surprised the M8 got a mention. It's only st when it gets close to Glasgow. Apart from that it's just another motorway.

The M25 though.. I hate to think how many days of my life I've lost sitting in traffic or crawling through roadworks.

The A303 isn't on the list. I reckon it ought to be though.

[RudeDog]

How is the M62 not in there???

[dele]

Yes, the M25 is fairly shocking at times, but, its a miracle the thing even exsists

[ian_touring]

heebeegeetee said:

Hmm

I think this confirms that the most dangerous aka interesting roads are oop norf, whereas almost all of the most boring/shandy-like ones are dahn sarf.

+1
I just came out in a small rash when I read the phrase "m6 near Birmingham"

• shudder*

[nelly1]

Take away the never-ending roadworks, the variable limits and the Dartford tolls and the M25 would be (almost) bearable.

[Killer Rhubarb]

Blasting the Cerbera on the outside lane before the Heathrow turning north bound, you have a 4 foot wall on your right hand side. All manner of purely awesome decatted noise reverberating from that to my open window. I like it!

If your in traffic, why not spice things up my winking at women in nearby cars and licking your lips?

[Beanoir]

Looking forward to my drive down to Cornwall then, using 4 of the top 10 worst roads in Britain! (A12, M25, M5, A30)

[tylerama]

Quite simply there are too many poorly educated drivers on the M25 in too little road space. Some of the driving I see there day in day out is appalling !

[tylerama]

Killer Rhubarb said:

Blasting the Cerbera on the outside lane before the Heathrow turning north bound, you have a 4 foot wall on your right hand side. All manner of purely awesome decatted noise reverberating from that to my open window. I like it!

I know exactly the section you mean :-)

[Thomo97]

How the A14 between the M11 and the A1 escapes entry is beyond me ... and another for the A303.

[tylerama]

I'm surprised the A406 north circular isn't in this list - it's truly appalling, Hanger Lane gyratory is dreadful too, if only people would stick to the lane markings!