Compensation claims from drivers, cyclists and other road users are expected to soar this year as bad weather has left the nation’s roads in a parlous state.
The news comes as the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) is about to release its annual survey on the state of Britain’s roads. Whilst its latest figures have not yet been officially released, the director of the AIA has revealed that the number of potholes could now be as many as 1.6 million, an increase of 600,000. It was estimated that there was on average one pothole for every 120 yards of road even before the recent icy weather. Now, it is believed that the cost of filling every hole would be £10 billion.
Councils have written to the Department for Transport seeking £100 million in emergency funding to help pay for the road repairs. It is thought that the problem could take 15 years to fix.
Because of the huge increase in potholes there is likely to be a correspondingly sharp rise in the number of payouts for accidents. The cold snap in 2009 was estimated to have cost £47 million in compensation payments and the amount paid out for accidents as a result of further damage to roads caused by the recent cold snap is likely to be higher still.
Cold Snap Likely to Bring Increase in Pothole Damages Claims
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