The weather conditions have left more than one million potholes, with some craters up to a metre wide. Estimates state that there is a now one pot hole every 100 yards.
According to The Mirror, in the worst hit areas these potholes are equivalent to craters, with huge drops befalling cars that try and negotiate through them. This has already led to damaged exhausts and suspensions, and numerous punctures.
The potholes have occurred due to the melting and refreezing of ice in crack and gaps in the road. As the ice refreezes, it expands, widening the cracks. Scarborough council have already had to close one of their roads due to the severity of the damage caused by the bleak winter.
With the roads so badly damaged there are likely to be more accidents involving vehicles. The state of the roads will also lead to more people suffering injuries due to falls, caused by tripping on damaged roads and over cracks and gaps in pavements. Edmund King, president of the AA, has conceded as much, stating “Crumbling roads cost more in compensation, accident claims and hospital admissions.”
Under the Highways Act 1980, outside Greater London county councils bear the responsibility for maintaining all highways in the county. This has already proved a particularly arduous responsibility due to the vast amounts of snow on the roads in the last few weeks and it looks like due to the pothole situation they are going to have to act quickly to try and repair them and reduce the number of accidents caused by them.
Unfortunately, it could get even worse for road users as further snow is forecast for later this week.