Motoring expert warns UK motorists paying the price for poorly patched potholes
A motoring expert has warned that tackling potholes should not be an “environmental problem” and said “our country is nothing without its roads”.
AA chief executive Edmund King said motorists were “feeling short-changed” despite paying tens of billions of dollars to the Treasury each year as many roads suffered from unfilled or poorly repaired potholes.
Fuel duty alone generated £24.3bn in the year to March. Other taxes include fuel VAT, vehicle excise tax and insurance premium tax.
The estimated cost of standardizing pothole-ridden local roads in England and Wales has now reached a record high of £18.6bn.
Speaking on The Logbook YouTube channel, Mr King said: “Our country is nothing without corruption.
“90 percent of freight transportation is done by road, and 86 percent of passenger trips are made by road.
“If we didn’t have roads, the country would come to a standstill.
“There would be no product left in our shops, there would be no exports, people could not go to work.
“This is not an environmental problem.”
Mr King said motorists were paying the price for the failed “patch and run” approach, where potholes were poorly filled and returned within weeks.
He continued: “This is the number one transportation issue for 96 percent of drivers.
“We see this firsthand at AA.
“Last year our patrols were called to 617,000 pothole-related incidents, including tire punctures, damaged wheels, steering and suspension damage.
“For drivers, it’s the worst feeling: dark nights, wet roads, puddles, you can’t see the pothole and then you hear the explosion.”
New figures from insurer Aviva show a quarter of claims for pothole damage result in vehicles being written off.
This occurs when the estimated cost of repair exceeds the value of the vehicle or it is not possible to return the vehicle to a safe condition.
According to Aviva, claims for potholes (including repairs and cancellations) are worth an average of £3,863.
Hannah Pinches, Aviva’s director of motor claims, said: “Many drivers may perceive potholes as a nuisance but it is worrying to see how many cars are written off due to serious damage.
“While older vehicles may be more susceptible to damage, modern cars have more technology and features often built into parts such as bumpers.
“Even seemingly minor damage can result in the vehicle being written off because the structural or safety integrity of the vehicle is compromised.”
The Department for Transport published new reporting requirements for English councils earlier this week, requiring them to prove they are doing more to fix potholes and roads for the future.
This aims to encourage full resurfacing of roads rather than short-term fixes.
Local authorities risk losing up to a third of their funding for road maintenance if they cannot show they are working effectively.
Roads minister Simon Lightwood said: “For a long time motorists have been angered by the prioritization of short-term work rather than real long-term repairs.
“That changes today, thanks to our new guide.”
