Road conditions improve: official

DfT stats show fewer road defects

They're getting better, we're told

Our roads are getting better, according to the latest set of Government stats.

The National Road Maintenance Condition Survey for 2005, released yesterday by the Department for Transport, shows a decrease in the defects index from 112.5 in 2000 to 93.5 in 2005, following the trend over the last six years. The index was set at 100 in 1977, and the figures are given a 90 per cent confidence limit.

Within that overall figure, the pattern varies across different types of roads. Main roads in built-up areas showed the greatest improvement while rural roads -- the biggest category -- improved the least. The pattern of road defect is clearly delineated between rural and urban roads too, with 'whole carriageway major deterioration' the biggest category of defect for urban roads, while 'edge deterioration' and 'wheel track rutting' share the honours out in the country.

The survey also shows the amount of money spent on road maintenance, and the two graphs – money spent versus road defects -- are mirror images of each other. The more that's spent, the better the roads become. Obvious maybe, but it's useful to have it confirmed.

You want to know more about the roads? Check out the report: link below.