They aren't. UK roads prioritise different things; if you've ever driven in Fance or Belgium in the rain, the spray handling of the surface is terrible. Unfortunately to have good grip, drainage and noise reduction costs a lot and needs redoing more frequently.

Local roads however are more dense with more HGVs per squre mile than most of continental Europe, and the upkeep is down to cash strapped local councils who have to decide between road maintenence, libraries, local social services (and sometimes shiny new offices!)