YP Comment: Time to reinvent cones hotline?

MOCKED when he launched his derided '˜cones hotline', John Major's initiative did, in time, lead to motorway roadworks being better planned in order to keep tailbacks to a minimum. Fast forward 25 years, perhaps the same principle should be applied to potholes, the current source of irritation, as the state of the nation's roads deteriorates at a rapid rate.
A car driving around a pothole, as councils have warned that 2017 could be a "tipping point" for tackling potholesA car driving around a pothole, as councils have warned that 2017 could be a "tipping point" for tackling potholes
A car driving around a pothole, as councils have warned that 2017 could be a "tipping point" for tackling potholes

Fast forward 25 years, perhaps the same principle should be applied to potholes, the current source of irritation, as the state of the nation’s roads deteriorates at a rapid rate.

Local authorities say they don’t have the money to tackle the backlog of repairs. Transport Minister and Harrogate MP Andrew Jones says they do as high-definition cameras are fitted to bin lorries in York to identify problem potholes.

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Yet, if drivers had a more effective means of reporting the worst potholes in return for the motoring taxes they generously pay rather than invariably trying, and failing, to make contact with unresponsive local councils, it might identify those routes in most urgent need of repair as the RAC highlights the damage being caused to vehicles because of poorly-maintained roads.