Several separate ‘heatwaves’ and higher than average temperatures have worsened the UK’s pothole problems, according to the latest data.
The figures are based on a rise in the number of breakdown callouts as a result of pothole-related incidents, which is something usually expected to drop in the summer.
But the fragile state of many roads means that existing potholes have deteriorated while the hot weather has caused weaknesses in road surfaces to be exposed.
As a result, The Pothole Partnership (which consists of several prominent companies and bodies including the AA, British Cycling and JCB) have expressed concern at the rise in pothole-related breakdowns.
Are Potholes A Serious Road Safety Concern?
Nobody enjoys potholes and the more time you spend on the road, the more poor road conditions you’ll see.
Despite the government committing to significant investment in road surface repairs and maintenance work in recent times, the negative impact of potholes and poor road conditions on fleets and drivers is still being felt.
Part of the issue is that road repairs often come under the responsibility of local authorities, many of which are dealing with significant budget constraints.
That, in turn, means that many councils miss the 28-day target in which road surfaces are supposed to be repaired within. That can lead to short-term repairs that deteriorate quicker than a proper repair, leaving the road in a perpetual state of disrepair.
However, one of the stark realities is that due to the sheer volume of road repairs required, experts believe it will take around 7 years to clear the road repair backlog at the current rate of repairs.
Interestingly, a recent suggestion was made around a ‘pothole levy’ that would see heavier vehicles such as HGVs and construction vehicle pay a tax that directly funds pothole repairs and road improvement works.
Of course, that creates issues in itself and penalises fleets more than private drivers when part of the issue is the sheer volume of traffic, not just the weight of individual vehicles.
The Road Safety Improvement Plan
There has been much talk around the government’s plan for improving road safety, which includes stricter punishments for careless and dangerous driving habits such as driving without a seatbelt and drink driving, with tolerances rumoured to be being lowered.
But it’s unclear yet what the plan is when it comes to improving road surfaces and dealing with rising traffic levels, both of which have a direct correlation with road safety.
The government increased the road maintenance funding pot to £1.6 billion last year, which was a 50% rise on the previous year. That was said to be the equivalent of an additional 7 million pothole repairs this financial year, which will clearly make a difference.
Local roads appear to be the main focus for much of the funding, with road improvement work being conducted across the motorway network already (with much of the existing Smart Motorway network’s work already completed).
Do you think more needs to be done to improve the condition of roads in the UK? And do you feel that poor road conditions have a negative impact on road (and driver) safety? Let us know…
