[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22842299

The rising cost of driving and the "pitiful" state of Britain's roads should prompt a review of the way motorists are taxed, the RAC has said.

More than three quarters of the 1,542 drivers who took part in the motoring group's annual survey said the UK's roads were deteriorating.

The RAC said some tax from drivers should be "ring-fenced for roads" to stop them becoming "one big pothole".

The top concern for drivers was the cost of motoring, with 46% choosing it as their most serious driving problem.

The report said that while the cost of living in the UK had gone up by almost 125% since 1989, many motoring costs had risen much faster, with fuel costing 303% more and the combined cost of tax and insurance up 344%.

The average price of a litre of unleaded petrol was less than 39p in 1989 and more than £1.34 in 2013, the report stated.

The report also found 84% of motorists believed the condition of their local roads was deteriorating, while 75% said the motorways and other main roads had got worse.

RAC technical director David Bizley said motorists and roads had both been left "battle-scarred" by the "burden of extreme financial conditions" since the last survey a year ago.

"Despite this, motorists are willing to pay their taxes, but want the balance of levies to reflect how they live and how the use their vehicle," he said.

Mr Bizley said drivers would prefer to be taxed more on things they can control, such as whether they use motorways or drive into town centres.

About a third of the drivers surveyed supported more tax in these areas, while just 6% and 5% backed increased fuel duty or road tax. By contrast 77% wanted lower fuel duty and just 16% wanted congestion charges cut.

The RAC said the Treasury collected more than £40bn in motoring taxes each year but spent just 22% of that on improving and maintaining roads - and the report called for more investment.

Yeah, we want some action, and we want it now .....