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The easyCar World Driving Report 2006

The Open Road - Driving Infrastructure

Of course, making your way around someone else's country is not just about making sense of their motorists. The state of the road, how many people are on it and how well you're looked after all add to the driving experience. From world-class motorway networks to bumpy dirt-tracks, detailed directions to nonsensical signage and luxury service stations to tiny pit stops, drivers will see them all.

despite its world-famous reputation for hospitality, Ireland also comes in second worst for roadside refreshments

Did you know?

  1. There are 889,600 km of highways in Australia.
  2. Germany has the most motorways in Europe, with 9,660km of 'Autobahns' zig-zagging their way across the country.
  3. France has 1,500km more motorways than Italy.
  4. In less than 10 years, India has doubled its number of highways, from 34,298km in 1996-97 to 65,659km by 2005.

Australia is where drivers can indulge themselves the most in the thrill of the open road as it's home to the world's clearest and quietest highways.

Top 10 clearest roads:

  1. Australia - 49%
  2. Cyprus - 47%
  3. France - 42%
  4. Ireland - 38%
  5. Canada - 38%
  6. Greece - 29%
  7. USA - 27%
  8. Spain - 27%
  9. South Africa - 25%
  10. Portugal - 24%

Meanwhile, drivers in the Netherlands may be calm, polite and careful - but there's also a lot of them, according to UK holidaymakers.

Where drivers are most likely to get caught up in traffic:

  1. Netherlands - 65%
  2. Italy - 61%
  3. USA - 47%
  4. Ireland - 46%
  5. South Africa - 45%
  6. Portugal - 33%
  7. Switzerland - 31%
  8. Germany - 31%
  9. France - 29%
  10. Canada - 28%

Australia, the USA, Switzerland and Germany have all steered themselves into pole position for their smooth roads, clear signs and great roadside refreshments.

Smoothest roads:

  1. France - 62%
  2. USA - 59%
  3. Switzerland - 54%
  4. Spain - 54%
  5. Germany - 53%

Clearest signposting:

  1. Netherlands - 77%
  2. Australia - 75%
  3. USA - 67%
  4. Germany - 62%
  5. Switzerland - 60%

Best roadside petrol and service stations:

  1. Canada - 53%
  2. USA - 52%
  3. Australia - 48%
  4. Germany - 47%
  5. Switzerland - 46%

Meanwhile, Ireland does not fare as well amongst UK drivers. They rate its roads the bumpiest and narrowest in the world. Motorists are also more likely to find signposts mind-boggling on the Emerald Isle, according to 56 per cent. And despite its world-famous reputation for hospitality, Ireland also comes in second worst for roadside refreshments.

And those picture postcard Mediterranean lanes are great to look at, but a bit more challenging to get across, it seems. The charming highways and byways of Italy, Greece and Portugal don't make for the smoothest and easiest journeys to follow, say UK drivers.

Bumpiest roads:

  1. Ireland - 66%
  2. South Africa - 61%
  3. Greece - 60%
  4. Portugal - 52%
  5. Italy - 45%

Narrowest roads:

  1. Ireland - 49%
  2. Portugal - 42%
  3. Greece - 37%
  4. Italy - 34%
  5. Switzerland - 31%

Confusing signposting:

  1. Italy - 68%
  2. Portugal - 62%
  3. Ireland - 56%
  4. Canada - 53%
  5. Spain - 52%

Most basic roadside garages/petrol stops:

  1. Greece - 35%
  2. Ireland - 26%
  3. Cyprus - 23%
  4. Australia - 20%
  5. South Africa - 19%
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