There has been a lot of discussion in the media about the state of some of the roads in Britain. Due to bad weather at the start of the year some roads have developed potholes. Potholes can be extremely dangerous to road users; not only can they cause damage to vehicles but they can also be responsible for road traffic accidents.
The government have spent millions of pounds repairing the roads in Britain, however some still have potholes in them. If you become involved in a road traffic accident and believe a pothole was to blame you should alert your local council. When doing so you should:
- Write down the exact location of the pothole
- Take measurements of the pothole, including width and depth (ensuring it is safe to do so if it is in the middle of a road)
- Write down the time the accident occurred
- Take down the names and contact details of any witnesses or other parties involved in the accident.
If you own a vehicle, you’ll be aware of the damage potholes can do to your vehicle if you drive over them. Some of the more dangerous potholes can cause damage to the tires on your vehicle, or may cause drivers to swerve into another driver. They can also cause axle and suspension failure on vehicles, which costs an estimated £2.8 billion every year.
If you do become involved in a car accident due to a pothole in the road, the council may be fully, or partially, responsible. Research done by www.potholes.co.uk say that an estimated 1 in 5 mechanical failures on UK roads are caused by potholes, which cost motorists an estimated £320 million every year.
It is the money we pay in council tax and road tax that is used to maintain our roads; as we’re paying it, the roads should be safe to use and absent of defects. It is estimated that authorities currently pay out over £50 million in compensation claims due to accidents or damage caused to vehicles on poor roads.
