Driver research shows Highways England’s first job is to explain itself

Jon Masters
01 May 2015

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Road user needs and experiences - summary report - March 2015 FINAL.pdf

Other drivers are awful, the M25 has mythical status and no one knows who runs the roads Transport Focus research with motorists finds.

Research by new strategic road network watchdog Transport Focus has started to build profiles of the psychology of motorway and trunk road drivers.

Among the findings, participants in the research openly admitted that they take on a more competitive type of behaviour behind the wheel. Getting to the front of the queue is often a driver’s most important aim.

The things that wind drivers up the most are other people using mobile phones when driving, speeding, lane switching, hogging of the middle lane, tailgating, overly cautious drivers and ignoring of the rules. 

This and other results of the research has implications for how the new Highways England serves its customers. Importantly, users do not recognise the term ‘strategic road network’. For instance HGV drivers talk about ‘trunking up the main corridors’, says the Transport Focus report.

Motorists generally use the terms motorways and trunk roads and they don’t differentiate between roads of the strategic road network (SRN) and those run by local authorities. They think about the door to door journey.

Motorists’ attitudes and knowledge was examined during autumn last year in group sessions and interviews with drivers of different vehicles on various types of leisure and business journeys. Interviewers also accompanied car and HGV drivers on their journeys on the SRN.

The results of the research suggested that Highways England consider is the finding that the majority of participants had a low level of awareness of its predecessor the Highways Agency.;Drivers mostly thought the SRN was run by the Government or a local authority. Some had heard of the Agency but didn’t know what it did. Participants in the research were unsure of the purpose and powers even of the Agency’s Traffic Officers – now the most visible part of Highways England.

All drivers see safety as the most fundamental requirement of the SRN. Transport Focus’ research shows that England’s motorways and trunk roads are generally regarded as good in this respect.

Driving in bad weather is viewed as a big concern, due to reduction of visibility and dangers of skidding and aquaplaning. A small number of the participants were worried about their own driving, but far more had concerns for the safety and attitudes in behaviour of other drivers. Most are blind to their own shortcomings, says Transport Focus.

The things that wind drivers up the most are other people using mobile phones when driving, speeding, lane switching, hogging of the middle lane, tailgating, overly cautious drivers and ignoring of the rules. HGV drivers complained about car drivers, who complained about everyone else – HGVs, white vans, bikes and pedestrians.

With regard to the motorways and trunk roads of the SRN itself, however, drivers see it as well maintained – with lots of roadworks that take too long to complete – compared to local roads.

Motorists are generally understanding of delays due to accidents and breakdowns, but there is an issue of trust for Highways England to address. Variable message signs are thought of as not updated quickly enough, so drivers don’t know whether to trust them and think the information not reliable enough to influence their journeys.

Knowledge of Smart Motorways is scarce among drivers, but those aware of them generally welcome the idea. Service area facilities are seen as poor – including for disabled users – and a special mention goes to the M25. The London orbital has gained mythical status, according to Transport Focus, among those that use it and those that don’t.