Drivers spend more than a million years on road in a year

DRIVERS IN England spent more than a million years on the road in 2016, new analysis shows.

Some 277bn miles were driven during the 12-month period, equivalent to 989 return trips to the planet Mars, the Local Government Association (LGA) said.

The association claimed the Government’s figures highlight the “urgent need” for more investment in local roads, where two thirds of all mileage is driven.

Councils estimate it would take £9.3bn and more than 14 years to clear the current local road repairs backlog.

The LGA, which represents 370 local authorities in England and Wales, wants two pence per litre of existing fuel duty to be used to generate £1 billion a year for councils to fund local roads maintenance.

The organisation’s transport spokesman Martin Tett said: “The amount of time drivers are spending on our roads continues to skyrocket. It is more important than ever for the Government to further invest in local roads.

“Only long-term and consistent investment in local road maintenance will allow councils to embark on the widespread improvement of our roads that is desperately needed, to the benefit of all road users up and down the country.”

Breakdown rescue firm the RAC said the proportion of callouts caused by pothole-related damage almost doubled between January and March compared with the previous three months.