UK drivers say foreign roads put ours to shame
An overwhelming majority of UK drivers think the roads they’ve driven on in other European countries “put the UK’s potholed-plagued streets to shame”. New RAC Europe research found as many as 72% of drivers surveyed who have experience of driving abroad think the condition of roads – such as the number and severity of potholes […]
RAC warns of nearly 13m getaway trips as schools break up for summer
As schools in England and Wales break up for summer drivers are set to make an estimated 12.6m getaway trips by car this coming weekend, a figure that exceeds the average annual exodus before the pandemic, data from the RAC suggests. Saturday is expected to see the largest volume of leisure travellers on the road, […]
RAC describes unease over parking machine removal
Nearly one-in-five drivers (19%) say their local authority has either scrapped parking payment machines or is consulting on doing so, forcing them to use mobile phones to pay instead, new RAC research reveals. The survey of 1,900 UK drivers found that one-in-nine (11%) reported some or all parking payment machines had already been removed by […]
RAC uncovers problems with nine-in-10 yellow box junctions councils want to enforce
On the back of the Government’s decision last year to let councils outside London and Cardiff apply for powers to enforce moving traffic offences, some 27 local authorities have put forward proposals to enforce 111 yellow box junctions, a new report from the RAC reveals. After commissioning chartered engineer Sam Wright, who was formally responsible for […]
RAC deals with 10,000 pothole-related breakdowns in first three months of 2023
The RAC is reporting that its patrols rescued 10,076 drivers who had fallen foul of potholes in the first three months of the year, a 39% increase on the same period a year ago. Damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels – issues most likely caused by poor road surfaces – accounted for […]
RAC wants smart motorway ban to go further
Following the Prime Minister’s decision to halt all future smart motorway programmes over a lack of driver confidence in the schemes, the RAC is calling for the hard shoulder to be reinstated on all existing all-lane running carriageways. Over the weekend the Department for Transport announced Rishi Sunak’s decision that plans for new smart motorways […]
Industry reacts to scrapping of new smart motorways
Following the Prime Minister’s decision to rule out the building of new smart motorways, the industry has been giving its reaction. Max Sugarman, Chief Executive at Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK), said: “Whilst we acknowledge that the Government will stop construction of all new smart motorways, it is important to note that these roads […]
Diesel pump price difference with petrol described as “shocking”
The wholesale price of diesel is now on a par with petrol yet diesel is still being sold for 17.5p a litre more on average at forecourts across the UK, data from RAC Fuel Watch reveals. The average price of petrol stands at 146.63p while diesel is 164.26p despite both fuels selling for around 114.5p on the […]
700,000 cars could be liable for ULEZ when zone expands
Nearly 700,000 car drivers in Greater London could be liable to pay the £12.50 Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge when the scheme expands in August 2023, a freedom of information request made by the RAC suggests. It says that, as of 22 February 2023, DVLA data shows a total of 691,559 licensed cars in the […]
Chancellor set to announce £200m funding for local roads, say reports
Reports in the national media and by motoring organisations have suggested that an extra £200 million could be provided for local road maintenance in tomorrow’s Budget. The Daily Mail reports the money represents around a 20% boost in funds to fix roads in towns, cities, and rural roads. The paper has a pothole campaign calling […]