England’s M1 motorway has been rated the worst in the country by drivers, with satisfaction levels dropping significantly due to ongoing roadworks and the introduction of average speed limits.

According to the latest survey by the independent watchdog Transport Focus, just 57% of drivers reported being satisfied with their experience on the M1 — a sharp decline from 69% in the 2023/24 period.

Number one

The annual survey, which gathered responses from over 9,000 drivers nationwide, revealed widespread frustration with delays, prolonged construction, and a lack of visible progress on the M1, which stretches from London to Leeds.

One respondent described the route as “miles of coned off road with little or no sign of actual work being done”.

Another called it “a very difficult road to plan time wise” due to inconsistent travel speeds and average speed cameras.

The dissatisfaction is primarily attributed to the National Highways’ National Emergency Area Retrofit (NEAR) programme, which involved the installation of more than 150 new emergency refuge areas across England’s smart motorway network.

Although these safety upgrades were deemed essential, drivers experienced long-term disruption, especially on all-lane running sections.

Satisfaction with these stretches dropped steeply from 61% last year to just 48% in 2024/25.

Nationwide Decline

The M1’s ranking contributed to an overall drop in satisfaction across the strategic road network — motorways and major A-roads managed by National Highways.

Nationally, 69% of road users reported being satisfied with their journey, down from 71% in the previous year.

Louise Collins, Director at Transport Focus, noted that while safety improvements are critical, the way roadworks are managed has a significant impact on driver experience.

“Long stretches of roadworks, sometimes one after another, and miles of cones have had a significant impact on road user satisfaction,” said Collins.

“The decrease reinforces the importance of National Highways learning the lessons from the smart motorway retrofit programme.”

Drivers frequently commented on the lack of visible construction activity and confusion about what work was being done.

Transport Focus has urged National Highways to manage communication better and minimise disruption during future projects.

Trying

In response, a National Highways spokesperson emphasised that the retrofit programme was a major commitment, completed ahead of schedule in March 2024.

“We successfully completed this work in March, delivering around five years’ worth of upgrades in just over three,” the spokesperson said.

“Drivers should now experience fewer delays, and the M1 is free of major roadworks for the first time since 2008.”

National Highways added that the experience gained from delivering such a complex programme will inform future roadwork planning to reduce impact on users.

The rankings

While the M1 took the bottom spot among motorways, the M40 — which links London and Birmingham — was rated the best, with 75% satisfaction.

Among A-roads, the A30 (Exeter to Penzance) topped the list with 85% satisfaction.

Conversely, the A47 was rated England’s worst A-road, receiving just 56% satisfaction, with many complaints focused on poor road surfaces.

Here’s how the top and bottom performers ranked:

Top 3 Roads:

  1. A30 – 85%

  2. A19 – 81%

  3. A14 – 76%

Bottom 3 Roads:

  1. A47 – 56%

  2. M1 – 57%

  3. M27/M25 – 60%

 

Collins concluded: “We’ll be working with National Highways to help them use these survey findings as they plan future roadworks to make sure the impact on users is minimised.”

With driver satisfaction falling, the survey underscores the need for road improvement projects to be balanced with clearer communication, better planning, and reduced disruption for the millions who rely on these routes daily.

Most drivers remain confused as to why some works take years, and there is often little or no work visibly being carried out for long periods.