If you believe the hype, then thanks to a host of technological innovations our vehicles are safer than ever and, with time, the costs for insurance companies should start to come down (albeit those technologically enhanced vehicles can cost more to repair).
However, one often overlooked factor that may be keeping claims, and therefore premiums, high, is the state of the UK’s roads.
To this end,
Saga recently conducted a survey of around 10,000 which found that eight in 10 motorists believe the UK’s roads are in a bad state of repair – with a similar number saying the situation has got worse during the last few years.
According to the survey, the worst roads are in Scotland and the North West – 84% of those in Scotland and 83% in the North West believe their roads are in poor condition. Londoners, meanwhile, are the most satisfied with the roads they are driving on – albeit only one in five are satisfied.
Here are the top five worst road regions in Britain:
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Worst roads
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Percentage of those saying roads are in a bad state
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Scotland
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84%
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North West
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83%
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South East
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81%
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South West
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80%
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East Anglia
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79%
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One of the chief complaints is that the roads are plagued with potholes – with Saga reporting that it paid out almost £100,000 for claims relating to hitting, or swerving to avoid, potholes.
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“We know that around nine out of ten over 50s regularly drive so they have a great insight into the state of the UK’s roads and they have clearly told us they think not enough is being done to maintain them,” said Saga’s Paul Green. “Often with potholes it is the hidden damage that can cost drivers dear, it’s well worth getting your car thoroughly checked out to ensure that all damage is repaired as soon as possible.
“We would urge motorists to contact the local council as soon as they see a pothole in order to get them to take action before a driver gets a nasty surprise.”
It is estimated that, on average, it costs £1,600 to repair damage caused by incidents involving potholes.
What do you think of the state of the UK’s roads? How bad are they? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.
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