April 27, 2008

Running from London to Great Yarmouth on the east coast, the A12 has been voted the worst in Britain in a survey.  Heavily congested from carrying more than 86,000 vehicles a day the A12's already stretched resources are tested further through regularly closure for roadworks.

The plight of motorists has only been taken into consideration after a former transport chief spent more than two hours stuck in traffic on the route.  Sir David Rowlands, who is due to retire as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport in May, is heading a three-day inquiry by Essex County Council. The inquiry, on April 17, May 1 and May 19, will look at widening more of the A12 to three lanes, and is the first in Britain to be set up by a local authority into the performance of an existing road.

Sir David, who lives near Chelmsford, Essex, was among the thousands caught in long delays following an accident on the A12 in October.

He said: "It took us about two hours to get off the A12. It certainly helped reinforce my interest in improving it.

"When I was at the Department for Transport, I was very careful not to allow any personal interest to dictate what I did. Now I'm retired, I can certainly help."

The survey to find the worst road was carried out by Cornhill Insurance. Edmund King, the president of the AA, said: "When things go wrong on the railways, we usually see full investigations and compensation if passengers are unduly delayed. Yet when things go wrong on the roads, we are just expected to put up with it. Perhaps Sir David should head up inquiries on roads in other parts of the country."

Lets hope that other traffic blackspots don't have to wait until a politician gets stuck in congestion before action is taken.  Failing that, lets make politicians drive to work once a month, along the worst routes to understand the problems of the motorists.  Maybe we should make them drive into Westminster and find a parking space...

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