To be shocked at the state of roads

[BenefitWaffle]

In the last year especially so many roads seem to be in a terrible state. I now drive main roads whilst keeping an eye out for pot holes. And some pot holes are so deep. It is like driving in a developing country. Only the motorways seem okay still.
Is it this bad where you live?

How is it “like driving in a developing country”?

Because the roads are in a bad state of repair.

Its awful at the moment, I don't think the constant rain has helped much either.

Yep

The government slashed money for councils, councils have had to slash budgets.

Yes, the ones in my area are awful too. Just another example of lack of funding for local councils.

Have you heard of the person who shames their council into repairing potholes by spraying a cock and balls around them? Known as Wanksy. Could give it a try?

I agree, it's costing me so much money, so many punctures and the other week I had to have a wheel replaced.

I have been driving since 1976 and have never had to constantly keep dodging potholes like I am now. It's shocking. I don't blame the council, they are underfunded, but repairs seem to wash away the next time it floods which is happening a lot now.

I live in London and drive to Cambridge often. I don't know if other areas are better, but I fully agree the estate of the roads is just embarrassing. In other countries pot holes are individually tagged in navigation apps as a warning, and quickly patched. I wonder if the British ground type has something to do with it, but yeah absolutely substandard

Ours improved slightly but now all the repairs are failing. It's actually dangerous. A huge crater appeared on the roundabout near me yesterday.

They seen to be repairing the potholes with humus these days . Actually humus would last longer

Yep, there's a road near us that is narrow, and the only passing place for about 300 metres is so potholed it's kind of caving in so you cant use it as you'd probably get stuck unless you were in a 4 wheel drive.

Our street is dreadful too, every so often someone comes and spray paints a circle around each hole as if their about to start repairing but it never happens.

A main road last night was closed off so I drove down a residential street that is used as a rat run. Never again, it was so potholed I was worried about my tyres.

I am a cyclist as well as a driver. Its bad enough when I'm in my car but positively terrifying on a bike.

Council budgets have been slashed.

You’re shocked that councils are bankrupt and broken after 15 years of Tories slashing their budgets? Where have you been living - on Mars?

I had exactly this thought last week. I was visiting and had a hirecar and was terrified I’d smash a tire, rim and all! I was driving around Sussex. So many potholes. And because of the rain you couldn’t see them/see how deep they were. I hit one at speed and was lucky the car wasn’t damaged.

And when I say visiting, I mean the UK. I visit from time to time and roads have been getting steadily worse.

Yeah it's awful. We need to get Rod Stewart on the case.

I work in the asphalt industry and councils just aren't spending the money on roads like they used to.

The "patch repairs" they do are not designed for longevity. They're just a quick fix.

https://www.highwaysindustry.com/english-road-repair-decline/

I've just driven up a road in our village which is just full of potholes - some of them very deep. It's on a National Cycle route. I wouldn't recommend any cyclists ride down it. The bit nearer to my house has actually sunk to the point it's like riding on a big dipper. It was reported to Highways at least 3 years ago - they put an uneven road sign on it about 2 years ago - the sign has been driven over (probably by someone who bounced off the dip in the road) and now lies crushed on the verge. Nothing has been done to fix the road, nor has it appeared on any works schedules. I'm just waiting for a cyclist to come off and sue the Council (we get groups of cyclists using the route. The lead cyclist might see the bump/dip/holes but heaven help the ones
behind - they cycle quite close).

I also commented to DH the other day about the lack of white lines on the roads at junctions and those painted on mini roundabouts that have completely worn off. It's OK if you're a local and know what road markings/priorities are, but heaven help anyone who is a stranger to the area!

The roads are no longer safe or fit for purpose.

The craziness is that we have a legal obligation (MOT) to keep our cars roadworthy and safe, but there is no obligation, it would seem, for the roads to be safe to drive on.

I thought councils have a legal obligation to maintain roads.

If your car is damaged by a pothole then I think you can make a claim.

I am more worried about the suspension than tyres. Tyres are easily replaced at relatively low cost. Suspension is a different issue.

My guess is the state of the roads is a combination of the eternal rain that has been falling over the past months plus councils increasing lack of effort in fixing them.

I live in a poor council area. The gov cut funding specifically to poorer areas (match funding what they could raise from council tax) a few years ago.

The immediate effect was slashing services. We lost all but one Surestart centre, all but one postnatal support group of any kind, the disability group was shut down, few staff get replaced when they leave...

Roads stopped being maintained and repaired. It's just taken a few years for it to really show. If you are a pedestrian you'll see pedestrian crossings aren't checked either, and now only get repaired if you yourself report them more than once.

Yes it definitely seems much worse than ever before!

Can't comment on roads as I don't live in UK but I visited London last week and was shocked at the state of the footpaths, they were treacherous for pedestrians!

@ohtowinthelottery yy road markings are a problem - it's especially awful at unfamiliar roundabouts. On the approach during summer the signs are obscured by foliage left to run riot and you can't see which lane you're supposed to be in on the road either because the markings are all worn away to fuck.