Experts Call For End To ‘Temporary’ Pothole Repairs
Experts have called for an end to what’s known as ‘temporary’ pothole repairs, with more pothole-related breakdowns than ever being reported.
Incidents including punctured, damaged suspensions and steering are being reported at an increasing rate, with this year’s figures sitting 2% higher than last year.
As a result, many experts are calling for an end to short-term fixes to potholes and road repairs, which can often do more harm than good.
What Are Temporary Pothole Repairs?
Potholes are the envy of any driver – you don’t have to head for long to spot a pothole and we’re all accustomed to weaving around them.
But the reality is that with potholes causing damage that costs the economy an estimated £14.4 billion every year, it’s something that needs addressing.
2023 saw the highest level of pothole-related incidents in 5 years, which was a return to pre-pandemic levels.
Part of the issue is that road maintenance levels in England have fallen by 45% in the last 5 years, according to the latest data.
Government statistics revealed that 3,366 fewer miles of road received any improvement work in the financial year ending April 2023.
That means that when compared to the 2017/18 year, the total amount of road improvement or maintenance works carried out has decreased by almost half.
Road improvements are still being carried out but they’re often what’s known as ‘temporary’ repairs. That’s because local authorities have targets, they have to meet for pothole repairs once they’re reported, which are usually to have them repaired within 28 days.
If they can’t achieve that, they’ll often opt for a temporary repair by filling in the hole with a cold-applied material that’s used as a stopgap until a proper repair is carried out.
The UK’s Pothole Problem
Budget constraints are an issue for many councils in terms of achieving targets set regarding potholes and road repairs. But that can lead to wider issues, with roads left in a state of disrepair well beyond the 28-day period they’re supposed to be repaired within.
The government launched a resurfacing programme last year that was aiming to address the issue, with £8.3 billion in funding allocated.
However, as roads continue to deteriorate and councils attempt to deal with the backlog in pothole repairs, the chance of them catching up with the backlog in the coming years is unlikely.
Because responsibility sits with local authorities, many of which are dealing with financial shortfalls, it’s not likely that we see a solution in the short-term…
But a firm requirement from the government to repair potholes permanently rather than short-term solutions being used to tide them over could have a significant impact on road safety.
The wider issue is that experts believe it will take around 7 years to clear the road repair backlog at the current rate of repairs… which means potholes are an issue that won’t be going away any time soon.
Do you think more needs to be done to deal with potholes and road repairs? Let us know in the comments below.
