Worst Motorway

2 April 2025

The M25 has retained its crown as the UKs worst motorway according a new poll of AA members*.

Four out of ten respondents (40%) told us that the London Orbital motorway was the worst to drive on, in 2013** a similar poll found 30% detested the M25.

One AA member said “it has a poor surface and is very noisy in places”. Another told us “the hold up around certain junctions, artificially caused by the auto signage gantry boards” adds to the frustration of driving on it.

Whilst another driver added “I have been horrified by aggressive drivers changing several lanes impulsively, at speed, without indicating. It feels as if the national speed limit has been abandoned there. 80 mph is not only acceptable but essential and average.”

The M25 opened 50 years ago and was fully completed in 1986 – it’s 117 miles long and carries over/around 200,000 vehicles per day, making it the UK busiest motorway.

The M6 came second in the poll (21%) with the M1 third (13%). Respondents told us about the M6 “Dangerous. Always holdups or accidents.”, one added “for a longtime too many 50mph stretches adding to the length of journey. Also lots of sections without hard shoulder which makes me uncomfortable and the 4th lane doesn’t really help as many people sit in middle lanes reducing capacity greatly.”

Nine of the top ten have had sections converted to so-called ‘smart’ motorways over recent years. This has led to years of roadworks followed by more misery for drivers as emergency areas have been retrofitted to each section. This frustration shows in the comments respondents made – “Any smart motorway scares me. I count the miles until the end and heave a sigh of relief.”

“It’s quite telling that nine of the worst motorways have sections of ‘smart’ motorway.”

Respondents were also asked to rate the condition of the UKs motorways ***– a third (32%) reported the congestion as being poor; more than one in five (22%) said that the condition of the road surface was poor, although a similar number said the surface was excellent. National Highways spends around £500,000 on maintenance of the motorway network each year.

Jack Cousens, AA head of roads policy, said: “The M25 is notorious for its heavy traffic and frequent delays. As one of the busiest stretches of motorway in the country, it is no surprise that drivers find it frustrating. Little wonder Chris Rea declared it the ‘Road To Hell’.

“It’s quite telling that nine of the worst motorways have sections of ‘smart’ motorway. Drivers have had to endure years of works for the initial conversion followed by yet more misery to add in the extra emergency areas. Most are telling us they have felt little if any benefit from losing the hard shoulder, with many claiming it’s led to more congestion.

" As constant jams and delays frustrate commuters, drivers are always looking for ways to keep the wheels turning. Checking your route before setting off with the AA Route Planner can help avoid sitting at the back of the queue.”

* Yonder received 13,775 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 11th to the 19th February 2025. Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

** Yonder received 23,824 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 8th to the 14th August 2013. Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

*** Yonder received 14,049 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 14th to 21st January 2025. Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.