DRIVERS have ranked the M23 the second worst motorway in the country.

A survey by an independent watchdog found just 64 per cent of drivers were happy with the road – whereas 92 per cent were satisfied with the M11, which joins London and Cambridge and came top of the list.

Transport Focus asked more than 8,000 road users about their last journey on a motorway managed by Highways England.

The M20 in Kent, which links London and Dover, came bottom of the table. But satisfaction with the road was only one per cent lower than with the M23.

Drivers on the motorway, which links the A23 with the M25, have complained of roadworks, a smart motorway project and a long 50mph stretch.

On Highways England’s website, drivers are able to leave comments about the smart motorway scheme, which is designed to reduce congestion. Drivers have dubbed diversions on the road “a joke” and the smart motorway “a waste of money”.

One Brighton garage owner told The Argus: “The M23 is very slow – it’s as bad as the M25. It’s very busy, especially from Gatwick upwards.

“The biggest problem is people staying in lanes they shouldn’t be in. You get cars towing caravans and going 30 or 40mph just sitting in the right hand lane. It has a domino effect.

“I understand the 50mph stretch. It’s in the interests of safety and people would moan if the roadworks weren’t done, just like they moan when they are being done. You can’t get it right.”

A Highways England spokesman said: “We care about the people that use our network, and we are pleased this latest survey shows the majority of motorists are satisfied. The M20 and M23 are two of the busiest motorways in the country, with thousands of drivers using them on a daily basis.

“Over the past five years Highways England has invested close to £400 million into three major projects to improve the flow of traffic on these roads. We appreciate travelling through traffic management on a daily basis isn’t ideal, but drivers will soon start to feel the benefits of our work.”

The Transport Focus survey covers the year up to March 2020. The watchdog’s chief executive Anthony Smith said: “In the 12 months before the coronavirus lockdown, more than three out of four drivers were satisfied with their journey on England’s motorways and major A roads – but some roads score much better than others.

“As drivers return to the roads it is vital that management of roadworks is looked at.”