Declining Quality of the Road Network

The condition of the road network in the United Kingdom has been gradually declining over an extended period of time. Numerous reports have indicated that the UK’s roads are in dire condition and, considered globally, rank considerably below other Group of Seven (G7) members.The effect of the declining quality of the network had a pronounced effect on haulage operators

According to a report compiled by the RoyalAutomotive Club (RAC), the UK’s roads are in a ‘truly dire state of repair’.The report indicated that only 48% of roads outside of London were found to bein a structurally sound condition and a number had insufficient drainage and failing surfaces that could potentially result in an accident. A further RAC report identified that the UK has approximately one million potholes and that the aforementioned was the UK’s leading cause for breakdowns

In 2023, the Department for Transport (DfT)invested £1.3 billion in repairing the UK’s road network. However, evidence has demonstrated that considerable amounts of these funds have been misallocatedand the condition of UK roads continues to decline. A report composed by theOffice for Rail & Road determined that countries in the East of England consistently had the worst quality of roads in the UK whilst counties in theSouth-West had the best. The report further contested that local councils hadfailed to properly schedule road maintenance which had led to wholly avoidable emergency maintenance. As the evidence suggests, the DfT appears to lack acoherent understanding on the scale of the issue and have, despite considerable investment, offered a viable solution. Globally considered, the UK ranks last for all G7 member states and ranked 37th in Global Economy.com yearly ranking.

The effect of poor quality roads on a haulier's operations are clear. Initially, potholes can damage a HGV’s  tyres, wheels, steering and suspension components leading to costly repairs. The average cost to replace a single tyre- without fitting or any associated costs - is approximately £300. Repairs toother areas can be far more costly. Alongside the financial strain of repairs, declining road quality can result in wholly avoidable delays Initially, damage caused by the road surface can lead to delays in deliveries whilst theoperators await either a mobile mechanic for roadside repairs or transport to a maintenance facility for more serious repairs. Secondly, unplanned emergency road maintenance can result in extensive and avoidable traffic delays. These delays can have serious financial and reputational impact on a haulage operator.

The structural decay of some UK roads - particularly in the East of England - further raises driver safety concerns. A road surface collapse can be catastrophic for both HGV drivers and other road users and can result in wholly avoidable incidents.

The quality of UK roads continues to decline and the DfT have, thus far, failed to present a reasoned and practical solution to this issue. The UK presently ranks last in road quality for G7 members. The substandard quality of the UK road network has marked financial and reputation implications for haulage operators.