MILLIONS of drivers in the South East have rush-hour journeys of up to two hours longer than they were five years ago, according to new research.

A survey of nearly 1,000 motorists at AA Service Centres at 20 towns and cities found that 86 per cent of drivers spend more time in their cars on their daily commute to and from work than they did in 1997.

Nearly half (43 per cent) are taking an extra 20 minutes on the work journey, with more than one in three (36 per cent) spending an hour extra in the car. For seven per cent, the daily drive to and from the office takes over than two hours more than it did five years ago.

But many motorists in the South would still favour the car over public transport, even if it were improved.

From February, those who drive in to London will face a £5 charge and there have been proposals to introduce road pricing on the M25 and other routes in Kent, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.

The research, carried out for a series of reports to be shown on Meridian TV, also found:

* 96 per cent of drivers in the region think congestion is getting worse.

* 83 per cent think the Government is investing too little in roads.

* 83 per cent say that there are more potholes, cracks, worn lines and broken pavements than ever before.

* Nearly half (44 per cent) are still unaware that nearly 80 per cent of the price of petrol is tax.

* 50 per cent would like to see more bypasses; 32 per cent want more park and ride schemes; 40 per cent think that there should be better parking facilities; and 54 per cent want better public transport.

Paul Watters, AA head of roads and transport, said: “In this region alone, drivers pay £8 billion a year in motoring taxation. In return, they get chronic road congestion, a public transport system that resembles something out of the dark ages and the threat of being charged to drive on roads that they already pay good money to use.”