Going to pot?
14/03/11 23:09 Filed in: Driving Advice
As roads wear, they tend to develop cracks in the surface. If the road is well maintained these will be sealed to stop water getting under the surface. If the maintenance is poor and water does get into the substructure of the road, it freezes in winter. Just like pipes bursting in a house, the ice bursts the road surface away and forms a pothole.
Unfortunately, simply filling a pothole is only a temporary cure; further water may still be under the more of the surface and the repair is weaker than a new road surface; as a result, potholes are frequently back at the same site year after year. Local authorities have benefitted from two decades of pretty mild winters and many have got away with letting the road maintenance schedule slip way behind time. The past two or three years have shown how poor many of our roads have become and the only real solution is a major programme of resurfacing and proper repair. It can be done; authorities such as Newport decided that paying repeatedly for temporary repairs and huge amounts in compensation for vehicle damage was not giving taxpayers value for money. In Newport’s case, they calculated that the cost of doing the job properly would soon be recouped in lower temporary repair and compensation costs. They borrowed £21m in 2009 (as a “prudential loan”, something open to all local authorities), began a major road repair programme, and after the harsh winter of 2009/10 they were already facing much lower repair costs than anywhere else in the UK.
It is often argued that if roads are maintained in the current economic circumstances, other Local authority projects will suffer. The Newport example shows that Britain does not have to choose between good roads and other option such as school repairs – both can be achieved; the reduced medium term costs for roads repay the investment over a relatively short timescale and deliver improvements in road safety – as well as improvements clearly visible to voters.
In the meantime, motorists need to be vigilant after a bout of freezing weather. Look for holes and signs of holes; on a wet road, a puddle may be hiding a substantial hole. Driving through a pothole slowly will do no damage. If you do drive through a hole at speed, tyre damage is not likely, but do check the wheels for any dent in the rim. The most likely damage is to the steering alignment, also known as tracking. Get this checked as soon as you can organise it, and bear in mind that for quite a few cars, front AND rear axles need to be checked; the garage or dealer will be able to tell you if this applies to your car. If the tracking is out of adjustment, handling will be affected and the tyres will wear rapidly.
Unfortunately, simply filling a pothole is only a temporary cure; further water may still be under the more of the surface and the repair is weaker than a new road surface; as a result, potholes are frequently back at the same site year after year. Local authorities have benefitted from two decades of pretty mild winters and many have got away with letting the road maintenance schedule slip way behind time. The past two or three years have shown how poor many of our roads have become and the only real solution is a major programme of resurfacing and proper repair. It can be done; authorities such as Newport decided that paying repeatedly for temporary repairs and huge amounts in compensation for vehicle damage was not giving taxpayers value for money. In Newport’s case, they calculated that the cost of doing the job properly would soon be recouped in lower temporary repair and compensation costs. They borrowed £21m in 2009 (as a “prudential loan”, something open to all local authorities), began a major road repair programme, and after the harsh winter of 2009/10 they were already facing much lower repair costs than anywhere else in the UK.
It is often argued that if roads are maintained in the current economic circumstances, other Local authority projects will suffer. The Newport example shows that Britain does not have to choose between good roads and other option such as school repairs – both can be achieved; the reduced medium term costs for roads repay the investment over a relatively short timescale and deliver improvements in road safety – as well as improvements clearly visible to voters.
In the meantime, motorists need to be vigilant after a bout of freezing weather. Look for holes and signs of holes; on a wet road, a puddle may be hiding a substantial hole. Driving through a pothole slowly will do no damage. If you do drive through a hole at speed, tyre damage is not likely, but do check the wheels for any dent in the rim. The most likely damage is to the steering alignment, also known as tracking. Get this checked as soon as you can organise it, and bear in mind that for quite a few cars, front AND rear axles need to be checked; the garage or dealer will be able to tell you if this applies to your car. If the tracking is out of adjustment, handling will be affected and the tyres will wear rapidly.