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UK roadworks 'the best in Europe' UK roadworks 'the best in Europe'
(about 2 hours later)
The UK's motorway roadworks are the best organised in Europe, the AA Motoring Trust has said. UK motorway roadworks are the best in Europe, the AA Motoring Trust has said.
The M42, near Birmingham, came top of a list of 53 European motorway roadworks sites inspected on behalf the trust. The M42, near Birmingham, came top of a list of 53 European sites inspected on behalf the trust. But information for drivers at some sites was poor.
The M5 near Clevedon, Bristol, and Taunton, Somerset, also rated highly along with the M1 near Hemel Hempstead and M25 near Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. A spokesman for the AA Trust said British roadworks had improved "absolutely" since the bad days of the Cones Hotline in the early 1990s.
The UK sites were praised for the 24-hour free tow-away service and permanent "well signed" speed cameras. Roadworks sites in Italy, Spain, Croatia, and the Netherlands were rated as "poor" by inspectors.
All sites were commended for the condition of traffic lanes markings. British motorways are under immense pressure, representing 1% of the network but carrying 20% of the traffic.
Five sites in the UK were inspected for the report.
WORST IN EUROPE SPAIN: M6 nr MadridITALY: E80 nr Rom-TrionfaleITALY: A3 nr EboliCROATIA: A3 nr NovskaNETHERLANDS: A12 nr Utrecht
The evaluations were carried out by staff at the University of Dresden, on behalf of the Eurotest consortium, of which the AA Trust is a member. Inspectors used a BMW car loaded with surveillance equipment.
The M1 at Hemel Hempstead and M25 at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, were also rated as "very good" in the report. The M5 near Clevedon, Bristol, and Taunton, Somerset, were rated as "good".
UK sites such as the M42 were praised for the 24-hour free tow-away service and permanent well-signed speed cameras. All sites were commended for the condition of traffic lane markings.
Smiling faces
But the independent inspectors were unhappy with amount of information given to drivers both on the approach to and through the roadworks.But the independent inspectors were unhappy with amount of information given to drivers both on the approach to and through the roadworks.
They recommended eye-catching roadside information to persuade drivers to slow down and inform them of progress through a contraflow system, similar to the Austrian "sad-to-smiling" faces signs.They recommended eye-catching roadside information to persuade drivers to slow down and inform them of progress through a contraflow system, similar to the Austrian "sad-to-smiling" faces signs.
There is still clearly room for improvements that wouldn't cause that much of an upheaval in current practices. AA Motoring Trust head of roads and transport policy Paul Watters UK SITES M42 nr Birmingham: Very good (Acceptable at night)M1 nr Hemel Hempstead: Very goodM25 nr Cheshunt: Very good (good at night)M5 nr Clevedon: GoodM5 nr Taunton: Good
The five sites were inspected during the day and, apart from the Taunton roadworks, again at night.The five sites were inspected during the day and, apart from the Taunton roadworks, again at night.
AA Motoring Trust head of roads and transport policy Paul Watters said: "On the basis of four UK motorway roadworks sites being rated 'very good', including the near-perfect M42 daytime site, expert European road engineers judged the UK to be best. The M42, M1 and the M25 sites were rated "very good" during the day. Clevedon's day and night random checks received a "good" rating, as did Taunton's day inspection.
"There is still clearly room for improvements that wouldn't cause that much of an upheaval in current practices. The Cheshunt night inspection yielded a "good" rating. And the M42 night inspection resulted in an "acceptable" rating.
"In particular, better information leading to and through sites could help to improve driver attitude to roadworks and safety." Send us your roadwork nightmares, using the form below.
The M42, M1 and the M25 sites were rated "very good" during the day. name="say">
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Clevedon's day and night random checks received a "good" rating, as did Taunton's day inspection.
The Cheshunt night inspection yielded a "good" rating.
And the M42 night inspection resulted in an "acceptable" rating.