The Asphalt Industry Alliance has called last week’s Department for Transport’s announcement that it’s spending £47.5 million in enhancing the safety of some of the most high-risk roads in England as “woefully behind what’s needed.

Through the third round of the Safer Roads Fund, 27 new schemes will be delivered, which the government says will benefit road users around the country by driving forward safety improvements such as redesigning junctions and improving signage and road markings, reducing the risk of collisions which will in turn reduce congestion, journey times and emissions.

But AIA Chair Rick Green (pictured) reacted by saying, “Any steps to improve road safety are a good thing but the funding announced today is half of what was previously pledged – highlighting that the local road network on which we all rely, needs to be given more priority by Government.

“Local highway engineers should be applauded for the work they do to keep their networks safe, but the fact remains that funding, whether dedicated for safety improvements or for vital maintenance which helps to ensure on-going safety, lags woefully behind what is needed.”

The AIA’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey (ALARM) 2023 reported last month that the annual shortfall in road carriageway budget 2022/2023 is the equivalent of £8.5m per local authority in England. 

(Picture – AIA)