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FRONT END
INVESTIGATES
JUST WHY
ARE UK ROADS
SO BAD?
Crumbling tarmac is nothing new for bikers but
what’s happening – and is it getting worse?
T’S AN ALL-TOO- again by cold weather and
FAMILIAR sight in motor vehicles.
modern motorcycling: “This situation can be
I You’re stitching together blamed largely on funding,”
a stream of flowing bends on Lyes added. “Until there is a
your favourite back-road proper strategic plan
blast and then bang! You’ve matched by long-term
run over a massive pothole funding, we are concerned
and spend the next five miles the pothole problem will
worrying about the risk of simply get worse.”
bent rims, popped tyres, and Nick’s comments are
knackered headstocks. supported by the Annual
Anyone who’s ridden a bike Local Authority Road
in Britain will have had a run- Maintenance (ALARM) report
in with one of these pesky for 2022 conducted by the
road craters, with some Most pothole repairs are a sticking plaster over the problem Asphalt Industry Alliance,
encounters resulting in which states the total paid in
damage to riders, as well as ‘Until there is a proper road-user compensation
their pride and joy. claims came to £8.9 million
However, with local- plan, the problem will across England and Wales,
authority budgets ever with 78% of that relating
tightening, more frequent simply get worse’ specifically to potholes.
extreme weather brought on Speaking in a summary of
by climate change, and a NICK LYES, RAC the 2022 report, alliance
greater volume of vehicles chair Rick Green said:
pulling onto our roads, are “Against a backdrop of
we now experiencing more or stayed the same in the ‘fill in’ a pothole without increased costs caused by
pothole problems than ever? previous 12-month period, addressing the underlying rising inflation, the message
well over half (58%) said they surface defects that are from this year’s ALARM
What’s causing
Words Dan Sutherland the problems? with potholes being the to break up,” he continued. responsible for maintaining
causing that section of road
felt they had deteriorated
research is clear: those
primary reason for this,”
“Filling in potholes often only
“When asked whether
our local roads are fast
acts as a temporary sticking
approaching the point where
Head of Roads Policy at the
drivers felt the condition and
plaster and the road can
maintenance of local roads
RAC, Nick Lyes, said.
they are drowning.
“They have a legal
had improved, deteriorated,
“Local authorities will often
often become churned up
14 SEPTEMBER 2022
