Have you noticed Basingstoke’s road quality whilst on your driving lessons? A survey conducted last year by the RAC’s annual Report on Motoring concluded that the most prevalent concern for UK motorists is the inadequate condition of local roads. Of the 3068 drivers involved in the survey in 2020 nearly 40% said that they considered poor road maintenance a bigger concern than drivers on their mobiles (32%), the poor driving skills of other motorists (27%), and the road rage of other motorists (26%). This was an increase from 33% in just one year. Despite the dramatic lack of activity on Britain’s roads due to the recent and unprecedented lockdowns, the survey’s results may not be particularly surprising. As Kwik Fit’s Pothole Impact Tracker Report found that the total cost to UK motorists from unsatisfactory road maintenance rose from £1.249 billion as of March 2020 to £1.267 billion this year. The report illustrated that drivers hit on average 11 potholes every month, and more than 10 million car-owners have had their cars damaged due to the rough roads. As first point of contact to the road tyres appear to be the most common component damaged, with 4.2 million drivers suffering punctures, cracks, and noticeable wear-and-tear. What’s more is that the damages resulting from potholes is not always immediately evident, with some being obscured by the tyre walls, and cracks only becoming prominent some time after the causal event. Stay mindful of potholes when you are driving.
