13 December 2006

CSS / IPSOS MORI SURVEY

IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE ABOUT HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE

Research findings on public perceptions of transport in Britain have just been released by the CSS. These findings represent the seventh consecutive annual survey carried out by Ipsos MORI for the CSS, formerly known as the County Surveyors Society. 

The research comprised interviews with 1,993 members of the public aged 15+, carried out during September 2006. Interviews focused on:

• public satisfaction with roads and road maintenance
• criteria by which carriageways, footways, and cycle ways are judged
•  public perception of current quality of carriageways, footways and cycle ways
• attitudes towards current levels of gritting/salting
• public expectations of improvements in transport
• priorities for future investment in highway assets.

The people interviewed included both car users and non-car users. When questioned about the modes of transport they had used, 85% had used cars, 48% the bus, and 29% the train during the last month.

The survey provides a wealth of insights into public attitudes and perceptions. As well as highlighting attitudes across gender, age and social classes, the CSS survey provides a regional perspective with varying attitudes across Wales, Scotland and the English Regions.

The key outcomes from the survey are:  satisfaction with the road network and road maintenance in particular has increased significantly over the last year. However, only a third believe the road network to be in good condition, whilst a fifth believe it to be inadequate and almost two thirds of those interviewed don’t believe the condition of the network will improve in the next five years. Priorities for any future government investment in highway assets should focus on carriageway and footway maintenance.

Headline results emerging from the survey show:

• Satisfaction with road maintenance

Satisfaction with the road network has improved almost steadily from 46% in 2001 to 55% in 2006.

Satisfaction with road maintenance has improved even more markedly, increasing from 37% to 51% in the same period

Although satisfaction with the road network and road maintenance in particular has increased significantly over the past year, when set in context with other local authority services, these services still attract fairly low ratings.

Interestingly, younger people (15-24 years old) are more likely to be satisfied with the road network than those over 55 years. Higher social grades are likely to be less satisfied than lower ones.

Factors influencing opinions

The most important factor in forming opinions regarding the condition of the highway network was its smoothness and ride quality, which was cited by 60%, whilst visual appearance was only cited by 19%. Similar results were found for cycle ways and foot pavements

Satisfaction with the level of salting/gritting

Over half (56%) felt that the current provision was adequate, but nearly one third (31%) felt it was not enough

Public expectations of improvement in transport

25% expect an improvement in the condition of the road network over the next five years. This is marginally higher than the 22% who expect the network to deteriorate with 43% expecting no change

Priorities for investment in highway assets

Public priorities for any additional government spending were for pavements (44%) and carriageways (41%).

John Deegan, the President of CSS, said: “On a positive note, public satisfaction with the highway network has increased significantly. This is clearly a direct result of the good work carried out by Highway Authorities throughout the UK.  What is worrying is that the public don’t see this improvement continuing over the next five years.  Government must heed this warning and treat highway maintenance as a priority for funding in order to maintain the social, environmental and economic wellbeing of the UK.”

ends

Media contacts:

If you have any queries on survey methodology or findings, please contact Matt Broughton at Ipsos MORI (020 7347 3000).

If you have any general queries for CSS regarding this item please contact:

Graeme Fitton at Warwickshire County Council (01926 412046).

Notes to editors:

1 John Deegan is the President of CSS, formerly known as the County Surveyors’ Society and is Strategic Director of Environment & Economy of Warwickshire County Council. 

2 CSS represents the Directors of Strategic Planning, Transportation, Environment, Waste Management and Economic Development throughout the UK.  Its members' responsibilities cover more than half the population, 75% of the highways and 90% of the land area of the country. CSS aims to represent member’s interests through the development and dissemination of best practice, responding to European and Central Government consultation and by promoting initiatives aimed at influencing Government policy. Work of the society is centred on a number of committees and working groups.

The CSS is well placed to contribute to the debate about the need for new resources and where these should be targeted to deliver the government’s transport vision for the future.

3 This survey, conducted by Ipsos MORI, is based on a nationally representative quota sample of 1993 adults, interviewed throughout Great Britain across 185 sampling points.  Interviews were carried out using CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing – laptops) face-to-face in respondents’ homes between 14-20 September 2006.  Data are weighted to reflect the national population profile.

4 Click here to download the PDF.