The AA has called for greater council powers to address roadside littering as research reveals an escalation of the issue across the UK.

According to an AA survey, 55% of motorists reported spotting more litter on UK roads, compared to 52% of drivers last year.

Based on data from 11,000 respondents, the research found that a significant proportion of people still support the ‘principle of accountability’ that involves vehicle owners receiving fines if they discard litter from cars.

The findings confirmed that the West Midlands had seen the greatest increase in roadside littering, with 63% of people having noticed an increase.

The Northeast of England was found to be the region with the second highest rise in roadside littering (58%), followed by the East of England and Yorkshire and Humber (57%).

To help combat the ‘litter crisis’, the AA is calling for greater council funding to support clean-up and enforcement procedures, as well as improved public education about the impacts of littering through campaigns.

The organization is also pushing for increased investment in roadside infrastructure and enhanced business partnerships to ‘promote responsible disposal’ of waste.

Edmund King, Director of the AA Charitable Trust, said: ‘There is no excuse for car litter louts and it's time to resolve the litter problem once and for all. Tossing rubbish from vehicles spoils the environment, costs millions, and puts road workers’ lives at risk when they must clear up.’

He added: ‘The rise in public concern about roadside litter is a wake-up call. The fact that most drivers support holding vehicle owners accountable shows there is public appetite for councils to enforce the rules more effectively.

‘However, we must also ensure that councils have the resources and technology to apply these powers fairly and effectively. We need a national effort - combining education, enforcement, and corporate responsibility - to tackle what is fast becoming a roadside litter epidemic.’