Wednesday, June 30, 2010

A killer waiting to strike

MOTORISTS in Scotland are calling for immediate action as the pothole crisis on Britain’s roads reaches breaking point with drivers being forced off the road by the dangerous craters.
In a new report by leading automotive service brand, Autoglass®, which questioned 3,000 drivers, exactly half (50%) said they’ve had either an accident or near miss while driving as a result of the horrifying road conditions and a quarter of motorists (25%) admit that someone they know has also been in the same situation.
Local councils in Scotland have a responsibility to display a temporary road sign when road conditions are poor, but more than nine out of ten (92%) drivers have never seen such a notice. When asked what measures they would like to see in place to protect them from pothole danger, four in ten (45%) would welcome a clear temporary road sign and over half (52%) think fluorescent markings around bad potholes would serve as a safe warning to traffic.
The survey also reveals that on an average journey motorists in Scotland encounter a staggering 14 potholes, with over a quarter (28%) coming across up to 20. Two thirds (62%) admit they spend more time watching out for ruts than keeping their eyes on the road ahead.
Potholes are costing Britain’s motorists around £3.7 billion4 in annual vehicle repairs with 64% of those polled having suffered because of the treacherous trenches. Almost half (46%) have experienced suspension problems, almost half (48%) have had a burst tyre, almost a fifth (17%) of drivers have had their windscreens chipped from the hole kicking up stones and a further 17% have had their paintwork damaged. An average spend of £208 per motorist is being shelled out on car repairs in Scotland as a result of the pothole crisis according to those questioned.
Do you know of any dangerous potholes on Borders roads? Let us know!