A recent study of UK road users has found that 72% of drivers have had to perform a dangerous manoeuvre to avoid the many potholes blighting the road network – and this was not the only chilling statistic National Pothole Day uncovered.
National Pothole Day has surveyed over a thousand road users, including motorists, cyclists and motorcyclists, to understand how potholes affect the everyday road user.
Worryingly, they found that 7% of drivers have been involved in an accident because of a pothole and that 66% of people have had their vehicles damaged because of potholes, with 69% spending over £100 to repair the damage.
Seeing potholes on our daily commute has become commonplace, but National Pothole Day has found that a shocking 72% of drivers see at least 5 potholes on their daily commute and 70% of motorists have experienced delays on their journey because of them. It is therefore unsurprising that over 20% of road users list potholes as the most annoying aspect of their daily commute – ahead of tailgating, speeding and road rage.
One of the aims of National Pothole Day’s survey was to truly understand what changes need to be made to make a real difference to the pothole crisis and to give people the opportunity to express their opinions on the state of UK roads.
On the materials being used to repair potholes, one participant commented: “Cheapest of the cheap. Usually, it doesn’t last long. We have one stretch of a busy road (about a mile long) where there are 15 large deep potholes on one side of the road and 10 on the opposite side.”
Despite the additional funding for pothole repairs released last year, with statistics like these, it is clear that the pothole crisis isn’t going away any time soon. The question then emerges, how do make the best use of the additional funding to try to repair the country’s crumbling road network once and for all?
UltraCrete, the proud sponsor of National Pothole Day, has been researching and manufacturing pothole repair materials for over 40 years. They have established strong relationships over the past four decades with local authorities and highway contractors up and down the country to develop a suite of first-time permanent pothole repair materials.
UltraCrete’s Technical and Site Support Team also carries out regular training with contractors to educate operatives on the best way to apply their materials to guarantee a first-time permanent repair.
For more information on National Pothole Day and the results of their survey, please follow #NoMorePotholesUK on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
For further information on UltraCrete and their range of approved first-time permanent pothole repair materials, please contact the UltraCrete team by calling +44 (0) 1827 254451, emailing ultracrete@instarmac.co.uk or visiting ultracrete.co.uk.
