The AA have released advice today to road users to report every pothole. This should keep us all incredibly busy as the state of our roads is akin to running the gauntlet. The original article is published below in full, and then, some advice from us on how to actually report a pothole.
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Drivers urged to report potholes as breakdowns surge
Gareema Bangad 24 May 2023, 06:52
Drivers have been urged to report every road surface blemish “no matter how small” as pothole-related breakdowns increase. The AA said it wants authorities to “understand the true state of our roads”.
The company received more than 52,000 call outs to vehicles that were left stranded due to faults possibly caused by potholes in April.
(Picture - PA MEDIA)
That represents a 29% increase on the same month in 2022.
Common problems caused by potholes include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.
If the level of pothole-related breakdowns continues at the current rate, 2023 will be the second worst year on record for road conditions, behind only 2018.
The AA said councils have a responsibility to inspect local roads on a regular basis but “cannot be held responsible for a pothole they didn’t know about”.
Jack Cousens, AA head of roads policy, said: “The pothole pandemic looks set to remain for quite some time, with little hope of a cure on the horizon.
“In order to help government and councils understand the true state of our roads, we need the public to report every pothole they see.
“Regardless of their size, depth, the type of road and its position in the lane, we need to make 2023 The Year of the Pothole so we can get our roads repaired.
“Potholes come in all shapes and sizes, each one posing a different type of danger.
“While the worst are like deep caves, shallower splits that snake across the surface can catch the wheels of cyclists causing severe damage.
“On safety grounds alone, we need to do all we can to shine a light on the awful condition of UK roads.”
The cost of bringing pothole-plagued local roads in England and Wales up to scratch has been estimated at £14 billion.
Recent analysis by the Local Government Association showed government funding for maintaining England’s motorways and major A roads was 31 times higher per mile than for repairing local roads last year.
Meanwhile, the government increased its Potholes Fund – which provides money to councils in England to tackle the issue – by £200 million to £700 million for the current financial year.
Cllr Linda Taylor, Transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: “Extra funding announced in this years’ Budget will help but faced with considerable inflationary pressures and this existing backlog, it is clear challenges for councils still remain.
“Only by the government providing councils with increased and long term funding certainty can this growing problem be addressed and our roads bought up to scratch.”
Additional reported by PA Media.
How to Report a Pothole
The AA has some sage advice on what to do when you hit a pothole which can be found here
From that article they advise reporting potholes as follows;
Let your local county, city or borough council know so they can fix the hole.
In England and Wales, you can find the right authority using this postcode checker.
Motorways and A roads in England are managed by Highways England.
Highways England can be emailed or phoned 24 hours a day info@highwaysengland.co.uk or 0300 123 5000
Using the Postcode Checker for Reporting Local Potholes
Unfortunately the link from the gov.uk website for local councils is totally broken.
Report local potholes here
How happy do you feel about the state of our roads, pavements and walkways in Seaford & Bishopstone?
- Very happy
- Not so happy - there is room for improvement
- Very unhappy - it's all a mess, in poor repair, & dangerous
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