Road condition and winter driving

(winter came with a bang, tyres flattened in potholes – extra cash for repairs and inquiry after inquiry)

51% expected road gritting in winter 2010/2011 to be better than the winter before. After significant snowfall this fell by 19% to 32% who thought gritting had actually been any better.

44% of drivers did nothing during 2010 to be better prepared if winter 2010/11 was as bad as winter 2009/10.

Speed cameras

(The war on the motorist is over, cameras go cameras come – drivers dont really mind as long as improvement courses not points remain an option)

75% of  members say speed cameras are acceptable or very acceptable.

79% of  members agree with the idea of offering drivers courses for minor motoring offences.

Speed limits

(new speed limit guidance due but motorway limit held)

from AA

There has been speculation about the introduction of an 80mph motorway limit and Government is reducing red tape to make it easier to introduce 20mph zones.

• 63% of respondents felt the motorway speed limit should be increased
• 23% felt any new motorway speed limit should be strictly enforced
• 39% felt any new motorway speed limit should be enforced as the 70 limit is now
• 56% agree there should be more 20mph zones but only on residential streets

Fuel prices

(new records set – impact is biting)

from the AA

Three quarters of respondents are cutting back on spending and/or driving because of rising fuel prices.

Compared with 2007:

• 31% say they travel less by car
• 16% say they have cut back on other expenditure, and
• 29% say they have done both.

Apart from driving, the main area for saving is on entertainment – mainly trips to cinema and restaurants.

Panelists think that the government is most responsible for fuel price rises, followed by oil companies and oil producing countries.

While 12% blame city traders, only 1% blame individuals owning filling stations.

Over 80% think there should be a body charged with monitoring the market to ensure fair prices.

72% agree that fuel retailers may not pass on all of any reduction in fuel tax that a fuel duty stabiliser may bring.

21 June 2011

The AA's Great British Motorist report looks at motoring opinion since the start of the Coalition Government.

Potholes, parking and lack of traffic police alongside strong views on speed cameras, speed limits and speed awareness courses have been some of the critical issues on this year's Populus agenda, tracking the views from 150,000 members.

Some 200 questions have been asked, ranging from serious motoring issues like drink drive limits (the majority support lower limits) to the best song to drive to ('Bat out of hell').

Fuel prices

Soaring fuel prices are rammed home as one of the big challenges facing the coalition government in its first year, according to new research. The proportion of drivers affected by record pump prices has leapt from 63% at Christmas to 76% now.

With just under half still blaming the Government for the high cost of fuel and a quarter blaming oil companies, the relevance of research as the barometer of driver opinion across the full range of motoring issues over the past 12 months is clear.

Comment

According to Edmund King, AA President, "The Coalition Government has talked about 'ending the war on the motorist' yet some of their actions appear at odds with motoring opinion, such as, not lowering the drink drive limit or suggesting less frequent MOTs. Our research shows that the majority of drivers supported a lower drink/drive limit and they felt that less frequent MOTs could hinder safety.

"The cost of fuel is top of drivers' concerns. The number of driver's adversely affected by fuel prices is now running at an all time high of 76%.

"Despite the Government ditching the proposed fuel duty increase at the budget, 42% of drivers still blame the Government for high fuel prices. If the Government really wants to get the motorist on board their policies should reflect mainstream motoring opinion."