MOTORCYCLISTS seem to talk about potholes like old women in the hairdressers (remember those? - hairdressers, not old women!) talk about the weather. It’s almost like a go-to conversation for some – us included.
But that’s not without good reason, motorcyclists are one of a small group of road users who can be massively affected by poorly maintained and potholed roads. Something that could be financially painful and frustrating to car drivers could be life-changing and potentially deadly to us.
BMW R 18 Review 2021
So, it will be pleasing to hear that the UK government has just announced a funding boost to help councils fight back against the curse of the pothole.
To do this, the DfT has set aside £500m to allow local authorities and councils to ensure its roads are properly maintained and potholes fixed.
A statement from the DfT reads:
“With the average pothole costing around £50 to fill in, the funding will ensure that the equivalent of 10 million potholes can be rectified, making thousands of local roads both safer and easier to drive and cycle on.”
Commenting, on the news, Transport Minister Baroness Vere said:
“The funding allocated today will help councils ensure roads in their area are kept up to standard, and that the potholes that blight road users can be dealt with promptly.”
The move to fix the situation isn’t without pressure from within, mind. With the story of this funding stretching back to 2019. Back then, Visordown reported on Transport Select Committee (TSC) branding some UK roads as a ‘scandal’, calling on the government to take more serious action.
Indeed, this latest round of funding comes just a week after the IAM called on the UK government to take the issue seriously. You can read that full article here.
How to report a pothole in your area
The first step is to report new or worsening potholes as you find them. There is a government page dedicated to the problem, and the results are then passed out to the council that is responsible for the repairs.
Other than that, actually making a claim for damage will help. As it stands, the IAM has revealed that such low numbers of road users are actually claiming for vehicle damage, that as a result, the economic impact to councils and the government is very low. If this amount increases, they will likely take the threat they pose much more seriously.
