Jeremy: Britain doesn't have good roads

Ricochet J · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:17

I think this is wrong.

I've driven on many roads all around England and South Wales. I must say, the roads were excellent. There was scenery, twisty bendy roads, straights, dips and everything else.

Obviously you can't say something as stupid as "I hate driving in Central London. There is always congestion. Therefore Britain doesn't have great driving roads."

So do you think Britain has excellent driving roads?

Begbie · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:23

Too right it does, Scotland has some amazing roads. That still make me grin no matter how many times I drive them

scoobyrichuk · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:27

I've not yet had the chance to explore much of this country's great driving roads but even in my local area (worcestershire close to the herefordshire/gloucestershire border) we have some superb driving roads. Very few speed cameras, very little traffic, very few coppers and some brilliant scenery to top it off. My personal favourite is the section of the a422 starting at spetchley (worcester) to stratford upon avon - I've yet to find a better road to take my bike on!

mjt · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:29

Uh..
Context, source, anything?

Jeremy who? Vine?

PhillyDee · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:34

That would be Ron Jeremey . . . . .

.

I like driving up to Kielder. Anyway . . . .

Ricochet J · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:37

mjt said:
Uh..
Context, source, anything?

Jeremy who? Vine?

You know who I mean. I don't have a specific source and as pathetic as this may sound, he said it in the episode where the three go all over Europe, incl Switzerland to find good roads.

But the point is, do you think the UK has good driving roads?

Randomface74 · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:42

roads in oxford are full of massive holes. like serious -will break your car- holes.

Ricochet J · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:44

Where? In the city or outskirts, or both?

Mr^B · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:47

Road quality in the UK is utter shocking. I've done a reasonable amount of driving in Europe and the UK has easily the worst quality roads in Europe. Apart from some former eastern-bloc states...but then again, the commies understood the need for a decent infrastructure - so they're probably reasonable.

I can't really comment on whether they are "good roads" in any other respect, views, driving experience, etc. as my concentration is usually taken up avoiding pot-holes and ****** cambers so I don't spank my 19" low profiles or end up in a ditch.

Lum · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:55

Link to article?

I assumed Clarkson.

Ranger07 · 4 Apr 2010 at 18:04

Britain does have some pretty poor roads. There are still a few worth mentioning though like this one. The quality of the road is amazing and you can drive for ages without seeing anyone. There are no traffic cops either.

wez130 · 4 Apr 2010 at 18:22

that looks like it could be an interesting drive Ranger. I might fire up google streetview

Randomface74 · 4 Apr 2010 at 18:40

Ricochet J said:
Where? In the city or outskirts, or both?

in the city

reiyushin · 4 Apr 2010 at 18:48

Need to explore more but not too many good ones in N.Ireland, I can't seem to get more than 1/2 mile till I encounter people/tractors....

paradigm · 4 Apr 2010 at 18:50

The problem is that whilst britain has some fantastic roads that would make good driving roads, a lot of the time they don't either due to shoddy maintenance, rediculously low (and increasingly smaller) speedlimits, and congestion.

Kitchster_uk · 4 Apr 2010 at 19:20

paradigm said:
The problem is that whilst britain has some fantastic roads that would make good driving roads, a lot of the time they don't either due to shoddy maintenance, rediculously low (and increasingly smaller) speedlimits, and congestion.

Nail. Head.

The roads are there, they have the potential but you have potholes, poor tarmac and general hatred of the motorist.

The roads around Aachen/Nurburg are awesome - well maintained and good quality tarmac. There are obviously a large amount of bikers and higher end metal around but the Germans must know this and know that it is safer to have good roads.

But we only pay about 80p a litre of tax on our fuel, including the vat on the tax, tax on our insurance and road fund licence. So I suppose we should be grateful... :rolleyes:

reiyushin · 4 Apr 2010 at 19:50

Kitchster_uk said:
But we only pay about 80p a litre of tax on our fuel, including the vat on the tax, tax on our insurance and road fund licence. So I suppose we should be grateful...

+1

Troezar · 4 Apr 2010 at 20:21

Ring fence the cash raised from motorists and spend them on the roads not on giving it away to "good causes"!

Dureth · 4 Apr 2010 at 20:37

billysielu said:
roads in oxford are full of massive holes. like serious -will break your car- holes.

I just drove to a village outside Oxford from Southampton this afternoon and some of the holes were so bad we had to stop and go round them once there was a space in the oncoming traffic.

Not just missing top sections of tarmac but 6 inch+ deep, foot wide holes that you could break an ankle in!

Shocking state of affairs.

rypt · 4 Apr 2010 at 20:40

billysielu said:
roads in oxford are full of massive holes. like serious -will break your car- holes.

Mr^B said:
Road quality in the UK is utter shocking.

Pretty much, we have some AMAZING road layouts with good views and really nice bends which can be both nice smooth sweeping ones and challenging short ones.
Just around Oxford I know of some really good roads to drive on, HOWEVER they are all full of potholes. If these roads have nice smooth tarmac they would be amazing to be on.

I don't get it how with such high tax rates we can't have proper roads