Pothole hotline needed as damage to cars soars – The Yorkshire Post says

IT is nearly 30 years since John Major instigated the ‘cones hotline’ to enable exasperated motorists to report locations where roads were being unnecessarily blocked.
The RAC has reported a record rise in callouts necessitated by potholes.The RAC has reported a record rise in callouts necessitated by potholes.
The RAC has reported a record rise in callouts necessitated by potholes.

Fast forward three decades and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps should launch a ‘pothole hotline’ to speed up repairs of the most badly damaged routes.

Already the Government has allocated the first £500m of the £2.5bn set aside in its Potholes Fund for emergency repairs. Yet, despite this, the RAC now reports a record rise in pothole-related breakdowns on UK roads after receiving 4,694 call-outs for vehicles likely to have been damaged by potholes between January and March. It says many roads “resemble the surface of the moon”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the deepest potholes a clear hazard, and, in some cases, a legacy of botched maintenance when utility firms dig up roads, the worst sites need to be targeted more effectively if the Government, and highways authorities, are serious about road safety.

How can pothole repairs be speeded up?How can pothole repairs be speeded up?
How can pothole repairs be speeded up?

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click here to subscribe.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.