Latest news with #potholes
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Should heavier cars be taxed more to cover the cost of fixing potholes they create?
Half of drivers have backed calls for heavier motors - particularly lorries - to pay more road tax that can then be ring-fenced for repairs of pothole they are responsible for causing. Some 48 per cent of drivers think weightier cars should pay more Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) to reflect the greater impact they have on road conditions, according to a study by Kwik Fit. While there are calls for vans and big cars to incur a pothole levy to pay for the much needed improvements to Britain's crater-filled roads, the majority of drivers think operators of HGVs should make the biggest contribution to repairs. Almost three in five of the 2,000 drivers surveyed said that HGVs should pay an additional levy to be set aside for road maintenance budgets, while 44 per cent believe delivery vans should pay an additional tax for the same purpose. This comes after This is Money reported the true cost of Britain's pothole crisis for drivers has risen to £320 - this is the average associated repair bill motorists face, according to figures from road safety charity IAM RoadSmart. Britain's roads are so littered with craters - over one million - that the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) has revealed it will take an estimated £16.78bn to tackle the backlog of repairs, leading the Government to announce new measures to tackle them. While the majority of drivers are all for heavier cars and vehicles paying more to use the roads in order to compensate for the added toll on tarmac, not everyone is in favour. A small number, 17 per cent, disagree that HGV operators should pay an additional levy, while 23 per cent are against vans facing additional charges. One in five (21 per cent) are opposed to heavier cars paying more road tax. And when drivers were asked if they would be happy to cough up more money to improve road surfaces around the UK, the research clearly shows that motorists already feel they are personally paying enough to support our road maintenance budgets. In contrast to a levy on HGVs or vans, only a quarter of drivers would be prepared to pay more 'road tax' to be ring-fenced for road repairs in their local area. Dan Joyce, operations director at Kwik Fit, said: 'Our new research highlights that there are no easy answers as to how this [road maintenance] is funded. Motorists already feel that they are contributing enough so it is understandable that they want the additional burden to be on the heavier vehicles believed to do the most damage to road surfaces. 'Of course, any costs placed on businesses through levies on HGVs or delivery vans are likely to be passed through to the end consumer, so it's critical that potential measures are not looked at in isolation.' Kia's £65,000 EV9, which has a kerb weight of 2,664kg and a maximum load weight 3,240kg Heavier cars are increasing damage to UK roads The AIA in 2024 found that Britain's growing road repair crisis has been fuelled by 'increased average vehicle weights on a deteriorating network'. New cars have been growing at an annual average of 10kg heavier and half a centimetre wider in recent years, also driven by growing demand for SUVs, reports have found. The increase in heavier vehicles and cars was said to be helping push Britain's crumbling roads to 'breaking point'. Just last week the Government announced that millions of drivers will have an updated category B driving licence - by far the most common type held by tens of millions of motorists in the UK - to allow these licence holders to get behind the wheel of heavier vehicles. Drivers can now pilot vehicles with a heavier maximum authorised mass (MAM) of up to 4,250kg, having previously been limited to 3,500kg. However, the new rules apply to electric vehicles only because electric SUVs - which are laden with weighty battery packs to deliver long ranges on a full charge - are now teetering dangerously close to the previous MAM restriction. How much are drivers having to shell out to fix pothole damage to vehicles? This year's ALARM Report from the AIA revealed that the estimated £16.8billion road repair backlog bill has increased by 42 per cent since 2016. Kwik Fit Pothole Impact Tracker published earlier this year highlighted how the cost to drivers has increased during the same period: Motorists are facing higher costs of 150 per cent to repair pothole-caused damage. Last year, the country's drivers paid a total of £1.7billion to repair vehicle damage caused by potholes. And while the IAM RoadSmart data last week put the average repair bill at £320, other drivers are having to stump up three times that to repair or replace damaged wheels, shattered suspension components and broken steering parts. Some five per cent say they paid more than £1,000 getting their motors fixed after driving through a pothole during the 12-month period. The road safety charity said potholes are not just a 'danger to motorists and cyclists alike' but they have become a 'substantial financial burden' on drivers. Our five-step guide to making pothole compensation claims 1. Collect the evidence If you're a motorist looking to make a claim for a repair bill for pothole-related damage, or a cyclist putting in a damage or personal injury claim after hitting one in the road, the first port of call is to make a note of where the pothole is located, the time and date of the incident, and take a photo of the pothole. A pothole needs to be at least 2 inches deep to be deemed a pothole in the eyes of councils. And it's not just the depth and size of the pothole that councils will try to use to refuse paying out compensation. Local authorities may defend a claim if they successfully argue that the pothole was not an obvious hazard - or if they were unaware of it, despite having in place a reasonable system of inspection and repair. To improve your chances of a successful claim, it will help to demonstrate whether the pothole was an obvious danger or not. Where possible, take photos at the scene, just in case the council repairs the pothole before you can return to take them. If you didn't do this at the time of the incident, you can return to the scene to take pictures. You should also take a photos of the damage the pothole has caused to your vehicle (or person, if you have been injured). If possible, take your car to a garage and ask for a mechanic's report in writing for the projected cost to fix the issue caused – or if your motor isn't drivable, phone a reputable repair centre and request a quote. 2. Work out who is to blame To make a claim for compensation, first you need to know who should pay out. If the pothole is on a motorway or main trunk road, the chances are it is a National Highways (formerly Highways England) problem. For local roads, you will need to research which council is responsible. Once you've identified the party you need to contact, request a copy of highway maintenance schedules and number of reported incidents on the particular road for the previous 14 days as evidence that the road hasn't been properly maintained or a reported pothole hasn't been addressed. 3. Make the claim You'll need to issue a formal claim to the local authority or National Highways and most responsible parties will have a template you can request from them. 4. What to do if you do - or don't - get a compensation offer After making the claim, you should be notified if compensation is being granted. Though you can still reject the value of the offer if you believe it isn't sufficient, especially if you have evidence that the pothole had already been reported but the responsible party had not acted to rectify it. If the council refuses compensation, you can seek legal advice or make a case through the courts. However, a word of warning that this could be a time-consuming process and is likely to be worthwhile only if the repair bill is considerable. 5. Final option: Make a claim through your insurance If you have comprehensive cover, you can claim for pothole damage on your insurance policy. However, it's worth considering the cost of the damage as well as your excess payments and if this action will affect your No Claims Bonus.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
'America's worst road' has pot holes that are a FOOT deep, with mail carriers now refusing to drive down it
Residents on a Louisiana road are being plagued by 'dangerous' potholes so deep postal workers are refusing to deliver their mail. Locals in St. Landry Parish say they are having to swerve to avoid the massive potholes, which measure up to three feet wide and one foot deep. Matthew and Jessica Roberts, who live on Copper Road, have been complaining about the bumpy stretch of roadway 'since before COVID.' 'This is dangerous,' Jessica told KATC. 'Frustrated is the biggest word for us because we have tried all avenues when it comes to getting it fixed.' The couple are afraid for the safety of their two teenage children, who are new drivers and they have had to spend money repairing their vehicles because of the road's sorry state. 'When you drive on it, you have to weave back and forth,' Matthew added. The family said that Copper Road is in such poor condition that postal workers have stopped delivering mail to their home. 'The road is so bad, we were told that it's damaging the mail trucks, so our mail doesn't get delivered,' Matthew said. Jessie Bellard, the president of St. Landry Parish, told KATC he wasn't aware that residents living on Copper Road weren't getting their mail. Bellard, who has been parish president since August 2020, explained that in situations like this, the post office usually notifies his office. He claimed he did not receive a call. The US Postal Service confirmed that its drivers had been instructed not to drive down Copper Road to not risk their safety. However, service was resumed on Tuesday after temporary fixes were made to the road. The couple said that crews poured fresh asphalt into potholes that day, but argued that wasn't enough. Matthew pointed out one of the temporary patches and demonstrated how inadequate it was by putting his foot into it. The asphalt gave way immediately. 'If I step on it, it moves. A car just pushes that right out. That's what they fixed this morning,' he said. Even before this quick fix from the parish, Matthew said local officials have repeatedly claimed they'd get the road back to working order, only to do nothing. 'Honestly, the worst thing for us is that they say they fix it or they say they're gonna come out and fix it, they don't, and they put on a work order online that they've surveyed it and fixed it. They haven't done anything,' he said. In an interview, Bellard acknowledged that Copper Road, 'has been like this for a while.'. Bellard said this project will take two days to complete and cost roughly $89,000 'We patched it, and of course, it don't hold. It's an old road,' he said. Bellard said he is aware of the complaints from residents and plans to take permanent action - as soon as the rain stops. 'Last month in this area, we had 6.8 inches of rain,' he said, claiming the delay to fixing Copper Road was due to weather. 'And I am not going to do any overlay in the rain, nor with the threat of more rain,' he said. He said this project will take two days to complete and cost roughly $89,000. Matthew and Jessica are so sick of waiting that they now plan to move away, pointing out that they pay their taxes to the parish and their road hasn't been fixed for years. 'We have been just getting the full runaround, and we are appreciative but it's the length of time we had to wait for this,' Jessica said. The Daily Mail has contacted the Public Works Department of St Landry Parish for comment.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Driving instructor says he has changed lessons due to potholes
A driving instructor has said he has had to change the way he teaches his students due to the amount of potholes in the Whitburn, 58, has operated a driving school in Nottinghamshire for 16 years, but has said he has noticed learner drivers' anxiety rise as the number of potholes have said he now avoids roads covered in potholes with some students who "refuse" to drive down them and has had to start teaching how motorists can tackle cratered streets safely."I spend more and more time teaching students about them," he added. "The roads have got so much worse over the past ten years - before, we barely spoke about potholes, now, my students always bring them up. "Lots of students panic about them as they see other drivers suddenly swerve away from them without looking and so on."They are concerned about damage to the vehicle, but in avoiding them, they may strike the curb, get too close to other cars or put nearby cyclists at risk."I teach them to observe the situation and only swerve out of the way if it's safe, otherwise, there is no option but to go through them." Mr Whitburn also teaches learner drivers with disabilities, for whom he says potholes pose added difficulties."When a vehicle shakes as it goes over a pothole, these clients find it even more difficult to control the car and their steering," he said."We go through them and deal with them, but it should not be this much of a hazard."You can always expect to see a few, but on some roads you can see between 20 - 30. That just is not acceptable." Mr Whitburn said he has spent had £1,000 on repairs to his car caused by potholes over the last 14 months and had one student suffer a blowout during a lesson. He added: "Myself and the student discussed the pothole on approach - to which he said - "what pothole?"He was, unfortunately, too late."I only swerve or steer the wheel out of the way if we are in an emergency. Having to do that knocks students confidence."Mr Whitburn said there are a number of road riddled with potholes on his patch - and highlighted Digby Avenue, Mapperley, as a particular problem, as it is on a test said: "Digby Avenue is already near a school and lots of parked cars, and when the potholes are everywhere, it's really hard to be safe. "Your car shakes so is almost comical." The government has announced £1.6bn funding for national road repairs and the Department for Transport (DFT) has warned English councils they will be ranked according to their process in fixing potholes.A Nottinghamshire County Council highways manager said: "We actively monitor the condition of all roads in Nottinghamshire through routine inspections and reports of defects we receive from residents and road users. "We're pleased to say that 40 sites in the district are due to benefit from road/footway resurfacing or surface treatments."Where residents notice potholes, we ask that they continue to report them to us either through our website or the MyNOTTS App."
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘I just had to laugh': flowers planted in Winnipeg pothole
Potholes do not normally make Winnipeggers laugh, but after Tracy Douglass noticed one with freshly planted flowers and soil, she said she just had to giggle. Douglass said she was walking on Donnelly Street at around 10 a.m. Monday when the brightly-coloured petals caught her eye. 'I thought someone's just taking a lighthearted approach to something that's annoying to most people,' she said. She said she has seen photos of people making light of potholes in other ways, like a painted picture around one or placing a sandbag in the hole, but none involving flowers. Douglass said the flowers must have been planted in the pothole no earlier than Friday, adding that they weren't there during her walk last week. As of April 8, the City of Winnipeg has filled more than 45,000 potholes this year. CTV News Winnipeg went to the area Monday afternoon, but the flowers were nowhere to be found.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Sudbury unveils list of roads for its large patch repair program
A pothole is seen in Sudbury in this file photo. Greater Sudbury has put together a list of roadways that frequently have potholes and would benefit from large, full-lane asphalt replacement, rather than just pothole repair. Greater Sudbury has put together a list of roadways that frequently have potholes and would benefit from large, full-lane asphalt replacement, rather than just pothole repair. 'By intervening in localized areas of distress, large asphalt patches help to restore structural integrity and prevent further degradation of the pavement,' said a staff report headed to the June 16 operations committee. Pothole damage reimbursement The city has set aside $11.7 million for the large asphalt patches program, which will run until 2027. More help on the way for Sudbury's pothole problem Greater Sudbury has put together a list of roadways that frequently have potholes and would benefit from large, full-lane asphalt replacement, rather than just pothole repair. 'This approach enhances safety and ride quality for road users while deferring the need for more extensive and costly rehabilitation or reconstruction.' The city has set aside $11.7 million for the large asphalt patches program, which will run until 2027. To determine which roads would benefit the most, staff analyzed data from last winter, looking for the busiest areas where potholes repeatedly popped up. Work to begin next month Other criteria included sites that are difficult to repair – such as intersections – major roadways and problem areas that are 'more time-consuming to travel to.' A contract has been tendered with the work this year expected to begin next month and run until November. The patches are normally a full lane in width and run between 50 and 500 metres, depending on the conditions. 'Approximately 83,000 square metres will be completed, which is equivalent to 23 lane kilometres at a 3.5 metres lane width,' the report said. 'This represents a 45 per cent increase in asphalt patches to be completed with the approved budget.' A full list of the 27 roads selected for the program can be found here, and includes roads in Sudbury (Barry Downe Road, Lasalle Boulevard, The Kingsway), the Valley (Cote Boulevard, Deschesne Road), Rayside (Errington Avenue, Notre Dame Avenue), Skead Road and the Garson-Coniston Road.
