M-way pothole payout claims soar by 139pc
RECORD numbers of drivers are claiming compensation for damage caused to their vehicles by Scotland’s crumbling motorways and dual carriageways.
Compensation claims more than doubled in the year to the end of March as the impact of the Beast from the East took its toll on the country’s roads network, shocking figures show.
Motoring groups said the figures are further evidence that the state of Scotland’s roads is at crisis point.
And the Scottish Conservatives announced a major public awareness campaign aimed at forcing the Scottish Government to act and provide an emergency repair fund of £100million.
The figures give the first indication that the severe winter left roads in a dangerous state.
Transport Scotland said 1,575 claims were lodged over damage sustained on trunk roads in the year to the end of March, 139 per cent more than the previous year. RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: ‘This provides further proof that roads are deteriorating. There needs to be a change of attitudes to road maintenance, including more resurfacing rather than patching up.
‘The problem is definitely getting worse following the bad weather. If the roads had been in a better condition in the first place there would not have been so much of a problem.
‘This impacts on road safety and vehicle damage. Motorists can experience very expensive damage like broken suspension and wheels and we estimate there is £100million a year of damage to vehicles. Because of this, some people will seek compensation but it would be far simpler if the roads were fixed in the first place.’
Mr Williams added: ‘We want long-term investment with certainty of funding for councils. Just putting up money towards fixing potholes is not the answer – we need permanent repairs.’
Transport Scotland is responsible for managing the country’s trunk roads, including motorways and dual carriageways.
It issued contracts for four regional areas to BEAR Scotland, Amey and Scotland Transerv, with the operating firm then responsible for paying compensation.
Following a freedom of information request by the Scottish Daily Mail, the quango confirmed that there were 470 compensation claims in 2013-14, 775 in 2014-15, 972 in 2015/16, 657 in 2016/17 and 1575 in 2017/18. It was unable to say how much was paid out.
The concerns about the state of trunk roads come after ministers rejected a plea from councils to provide more funding to help tackle potholes caused by the severe winter on local roads.
Today, the Scottish Conservatives launch a Save Our Roads campaign, calling for an extra £100million to be invested in road repairs over a parliamentary term, or £60million between now and 2021.
The party’s transport spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘After years of neglect Scotland’s roads are in a shocking state – over a third are in need of repair.
‘Scotland has simply had enough and we want to see action taken. That is why we are calling on the Scottish Government to adopt our policy for a £100million pothole action fund.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We fully recognise the importance of a safe and reliable trunk road network and the budget for maintenance has increased by around £65million to £433million in 2018-2019.
‘A recent Audit Scotland report found 87 per cent of trunk roads are in an acceptable condition. In times of financial constraint we are making significant efforts to maximise every penny that is spent on maintenance.’