LANHAM, MD — It’s no secret that aging urban roads are in increasingly rough shape both in Canada and the U.S.

A new American survey released by the Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) says that drivers are willing to put up with the financial investment and the periodic headache of road maintenance if it means smoother driving.

The survey, conducted by the APA with the impending fall shuffling of federal transportation and infrastructure funds, gives Congress a better idea of where to spend.

With an expected Federal Highway Trust Fund deficit, the APA wants to find out what drivers want in order to maximize the available funds.

The survey, which included 3,085 civilian drivers and commercial truckers, revealed the following:

• Fifty-one percent of drivers and 52 percent of truckers support implementing new sources of funding for constructing and maintaining roads
• Nearly 70 percent of drivers are willing to put up with occasional maintenance delays if it means the roads are smoother and better maintained
• Out of 14 factors, 56 percent of drivers chose safety as one of their top priorities. Smoother, better maintained roads mean less preventable vehicular incidents
• A whopping 86 percent of drivers and 78 percent of truckers think spending should be directed to maintaining and repairing current roads and infrastructure instead of building new ones
• Seventy-three percent of truckers and 84 percent of drivers want better roads, with maintenance taken care of during low-volume hours, keeping the roads open during peak hours

Smooth, well-maintained roads increase fuel economy and driver comfort while reducing vehicle wear.

National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) President Mike Alcott echoed the sentiments the survey revealed.

“These results emphasize the need to increase investment in our nation’s aging infrastructure and to put a greater emphasis on ensuring a consistent level of drivability for road users,” Alcott said.

The survey of 3,085 drivers and commercial truckers from eight US regions was conducted by the APA with the help of Edelman Berland and can be found here.