A survey performed for Kwik Fit indicates that the pothole problem is getting worse in the UK, a trend that will surprise very few people. Based upon feedback from 2,049 respondents, it has been determined that pothole damage to vehicles last year cost a total of £915 million to repair. This is 34 per cent more than the cost calculated from a similar survey two years ago – and the rise can’t be explained away by increasing repair costs.
RAC patrols attended 11 per cent more breakdowns that could be attributed to potholes in the last quarter of 2017 than in the same period in 2016, according to new data used to compile the RAC’s Pothole Index.
The AlloyGator wheel protector has an opportunity for growth as motorists battle alloy wheel damage caused by hitting potholes. Hitting the side of a pothole can cause scrapes, scuffs and dents to alloy wheels resulting in expensive repair bills or even the need for replacements – all of which can be avoided by fitting AlloyGators, the company states. With the winter months sure to exacerbate the pothole problem, due to frozen water expanding cracks in the road, AlloyGator is increasing its efforts to roll out its product to more tyre retailers.
New figures from the DFT showed that over 100 cyclists are injured in accidents caused by crumbling roads, because councils are failing to fix potholes as they are not deep enough.
A report from the AA shows that more than three-quarters (76 per cent) of UK drivers want all potholes filled within a week and 18 per cent want potholes to be filled within 24 hours of them appearing. LeasePlan UK’s managing director, Matt Dyer, has reacted to the story, outlining that the government needs to provide a better connected and dynamic infrastructure that suits both the needs of people and businesses.
To coincide with this year’s National Pothole Day (today – Monday 16 January), AlloyGator is launching a special competition to save drivers from having to put up with unsightly scuffed and scratched alloy wheels on their prized motors, often caused by potholes and kerbs.
“The amount of potholes we see on UK’s roads is very concerning as this is not just a serious safety issue, but an economic one too,” said Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK.
Halfords Autocentres have become the official sponsors of the StreetRepairs.co.uk website and #NationalPotholeDay 2017. The collaboration heralds a breakthrough in offering road users the ability to have the safety of their vehicles checked after hitting a pothole. Potholes are an increasing problem on Britain’s roads, causing damage to vehicles and presenting a potential safety hazard.
The Government has released details of how a £50m pothole fund is to be divided up between English councils. The cash will be split among 118 authorities. Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the government wanted to “tackle the blight of potholes”. Devon council is to receive the most cash. The Local Government Association says it will take £12bn to fix the roads.
Responding to the Asphalt Industry Alliance’s annual ALARM survey, Cllr Peter Box, transport spokesman at the Local Government Association, said: “It is becoming increasingly urgent to address the roads crisis we face as a nation. Our roads are deteriorating fast and it would take almost £12 billion and be close to 2030 before we could bring them up to scratch and clear the current roads repair backlog.”
Jaguar Land Rover is researching new connected car technology that will allow a vehicle to identify potholes, broken drains and manhole covers. If a car can receive a warning from another vehicle about severe potholes or broken manholes ahead, then drivers would be able to slow down and avoid the danger – or the car could adjust suspension settings to reduce the impact and smooth the ride. This could help reduce the potential for punctures, wheel and vehicle damage as well as road accidents.
An analysis of RAC breakdowns has shown that potholes are more of a problem to British drivers than ever, according to a spokesperson for Click4Warranty. Faulty suspension and damaged springs are traditional indicators of the condition of Britain’s road surfaces. More faulty springs means more potholes and more potholes means more wear and tear on your vehicle. Britain has seen a dramatic increase in the number of suspension-related repairs in the UK over the last three years, with the annual cost for drivers reaching £730m.
The 20th Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey highlights a 33 per cent increase in the number of potholes filled over the last year. However, according to the asphalt industry, even this increase barely keeps pace with the damage done to roads each year. Indeed, the asphalt industry said the money invested was “wasted”.
Despite local authorities reporting an increase in their overall maintenance budget, one in six roads in England and Wales are still classed as being in poor condition and an estimated £12.16 billion is needed to get the local road network back into reasonable condition.
The Government’s Road Conditions in England Report brings a mixed bag of results with some minor improvements on certain road categories and deteriorating roads elsewhere. Generally the AA believes that a great proportion of motoring taxation should be ring-fenced for road improvements.
Retail members of road safety organisation TyreSafe are reporting “significant increases” in the number of cracked wheel rims as a result of driving on potholed roads. Therefore TyreSafe encourages motorists to increase the frequency of their tyre pressure checks in a bid to identify and prevent potentially dangerous tyre failures resulting from pothole-damaged wheel rims.
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