Transport User Voice – July 2019 – Road users want better real time information about delays

01 July 2019

New challenge to Highways England 

New research published in June confirms that road users want better ‘real time’ information provided on motorways and major ‘A’ roads, particularly during periods of unexpected disruption and so they can make informed choices that put them more in control of their journeys.

Road information: the user perspective suggests road users are generally satisfied with information provided across Highways England’s network, but are less happy with that provided on major ‘A’ roads than with that provided on motorways. They also felt that information provided at times of unexpected disruption was not always timely, accurate or useful enough.

These findings echo data from the Strategic Roads User Survey which also suggests Highways England needs to give road users on the routes it manages more advanced warning about problems, whether caused by planned roadworks or unexpected delays and diversions.

The research also confirms there is plenty of scope to increase general awareness amongst road users of when they are travelling on a road that is managed by Highways England.

Transport Focus has asked Highways England to consider whether its long-term role should be that of the trusted supplier of high-quality ‘single source of the truth’ data to third parties who provide ‘push’ and ‘pull’ information platforms for road users. As part of a wider campaign to improve road user information to be launched in the autumn, Transport Focus plans to engage with Highways England and the Office of Rail and Road to ensure that the insight gained from this study is used to drive improvements in the provision of information to road users.

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