Potholes and Road Maintenance

[j]

If our great Councils, Governments and high ways department fixed any thing first time and made it so it could not brake or ware out. THey would have to make several people redundant, and how could they would no be able to put large lunch and dinner claims in for taking dodgy road repairers out for dinner and think the hi-viz and cone manufactures would soon go out of business.Comrades think of the economy what would Stalin do.

[africajim]

I hit a pothole with the company van last week, I honestly thought the strut was going to come up through the inner wing! I couldn't avoid the hole as I couldn't see it due to standing water with the thaw and it was dark. Quite scary when you think it's just a puddle and suddenly the wheel drops about three inches followed by the bang of the suspension!
I'm glad they're doing something regarding patching, even if it is only temporary until summertime it's better than further damage to peoples vehicles.
While travelling along the A96 this week I just happened to notice and start to take stock of the fact you cannot travel half a mile on any road up here without coming across damage to the surface. The authorities are going to have a lot of work by the end of this winter. Best of luck to them.

[twistgrip]

Interesting topic. If you get stuck in a jam, not unusual these days, take a good look at the road surface whilst you are stationary/stopped. You will probably notice all sorts of disrepair you would otherwise miss. Most damage is started by surface deterioration letting water into the top course. Overnight it freezes and expands starting the pot hole cycle. Another thing I cannot understand is this situation of the outside of the road seemingly being broken from the main carriagway. It shows as a long crack very often with grass growing in it! I see a lot in East Anglia and can only assume it is due to heavier traffic and farm trailers drawn by tractors. What I do know is that in extreme cases it can have you in the ditch if you are not aware. My opinion is that road maintenence is an easy thing to cut back on and many roads crack up because it is left too late. I do know a little about laying 'black top' and it can be put down if there is 'less than 5% precipitation' can't comment about the cold stuff from a bag but there are loads of hot mixes containing all sorts of filler crushed glass being one. Never get a cheap tarmac job done on your drive by your local friendly travellers. They like a 'sloppy mix' that spreads very thinly and takes ages to go off usually resulting in black smelly footprints on you cream carpet!.

[RickSkye]

The roads on Skye are falling to bits, all the tempory repairs have come out with the cold weather and now the top surface is breached, the holes are rapidly enlarging. Its going to cost a fortune, but they will all have to be resurfaced. I can't see it being done by the summer. So watch out if you are up this way.

Rick

[Whealie]

from the AA

Press release


Hole pot of trouble for drivers, says AA Insurance

• Four-fold increase in pothole claims as season starts early

The number of insurance claims for pothole-related damage to cars has bumped sharply upwards, according to figures released by broker AA Insurance*.
"We're seeing a four-fold increase in the number of claims for pothole damage compared with the same period last year," says Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance. But with loss of no-claim bonus and insurance excess, it takes serious damage from a pothole 'strike' - or the consequences of one - to justify making a claim. So although many pothole incidents cause damage, the cost of repair doesn't justify a claim."
The AA has expressed serious concern about the huge number of potholes on Britain's roads following the severe winter. It has called on the Government to provide extra cash for highway authorities to stem the pothole epidemic.
Last year, 47 million** was lost in compensation claims and extra staff costs in dealing with them and the AA fears that unless the necessary investment is made available, the cost of claims will be considerably greater this year. It says that if the a highway authority has been notified of a defect it may be liable for damage caused so it is important to tell them about such hazards.
"The pothole season is with us early this year and is a third worse than last year," Douglas points out.
"It would take a quarry-like pothole to cause the sort of damage that would justify an insurance claim, but there are certainly some ‘A-list' holes out there. But more commonly, our customers have either tried to avoid a pothole and hit something else, such as a kerb, or hitting a hole has caused them to momentarily lose control and hit another vehicle or object."
Pothole damage to cars is usually confined to tyres and wheels, steering and suspension.
"If you hit a pothole and afterwards you notice vibration, the steering wheel doesn't ‘centre' properly or it pulls to one side, get the car checked immediately, as faults such as tracking or steering damage can lead to later expense or even an accident.
"Keep an eye on your tyres, too," Douglas advises. "Damage may not be immediately obvious but watch for development of tell-tale bulges on the tyre walls, indicating serious internal damage. If you see such a defect, change the tyre immediately as a bulge is likely to result in a blow-out which could be catastrophic if you're travelling a speed."
The AA has started a national AA Pothole Watch and is inviting drivers to report potholes at www.theAA.com.
Three pothole claims selected from AA insurance claims

• Mr H hit a serious pothole that was full of water and concealed by the wet road surface. The strike punctured the front-near-side low-profile tyre of his BMW, distorted and cracked the aluminium wheel and damaged the steering. Estimated repair bill: over 2,200
• While negotiating a bend, Mrs P hit a pothole that wrenched her steering, so losing control. She hit the near-side kerb causing the front nearside wheel to collapse underneath the car as well as damaging the front valance of her Ford Fiesta on the concrete kerb. Estimated repair bill: 1,850
• Mr W's Skoda Superb slid on an icy road surface as he tried to avoid a pothole. However, his front offside wheel was caught by the hole causing the back of his car to swing out into the path of an oncoming van. Estimated repair bill to both car and van: 3,600

[icenian]

what would Stalin do

Stalin would declare an immediate 5 year plan to repair all roads. Set strict targets for all the relevant agencies and local authorities.

On the ground, there would be no resources to get the work done. The officials responsible would resort to desperate short term bodges; loopholes in the targets and reporting structures would be sought.

Reports of the completion of the work would be drafted and circulated upwards. Any admissions of remaining problems or need for additional resources would be filtered out by each tier of management. Eventually, at the top level, the Leader receives reports of the permanent eradication of the problem across the entire nation.

Heads of public agencies and local authorities would be rewarded for their success.

Thank heavens we live in a modern democracy and not a decrepit old dictatorship with a ruling/media elite who are completely detached from reality

[StumpyFingers]

Instead of having prisoners sewing Mailbags and making Number Plates, why don't they bring back Chain Gangs and use them to repair the roads.


Now for all the wrath of XRV.

[BobA]

Instead of having prisoners sewing Mailbags and making Number Plates, why don't they bring back Chain Gangs and use them to repair the roads.


Now for all the wrath of XRV.

Cos they ain't sewing mail bags or stamping number plates, they are cossetted in their warm cells watching satellite tv, playing Wii, and terrorising their victims on social networking sites. You surely don't expect the taxpayer to make the poor things work do you??!!!!

[Lutin]

Thank heavens we live in a modern democracy and not a decrepit old dictatorship with a ruling/media elite who are completely detached from reality

Hmmmm, what medication are you on again? Looks like we'll either have to up the does or maybe try this, as yet untested, new drug. Now hold still, this won't hurt a bit...............

[StumpyFingers]

Cos they ain't sewing mail bags or stamping number plates, they are cossetted in their warm cells watching satellite tv, playing Wii, and terrorising their victims on social networking sites. You surely don't expect the taxpayer to make the poor things work do you??!!!!

I was looking at holiday camps like Butlins and the like and found that the prisoners were looked after alot better.