L drivers need tests on potholes

POTHOLES are so widespread that learner drivers should have to spot them to pass their test, the AA has said.

The motoring firm stated that poor road surfaces should be included in the hazard perception test because of the damage they cause to vehicles and that the Highway Code should be updated to give drivers advice on what to do when they encounter a pothole.

One in five roads in England and Wales is in a poor condition as councils face a huge funding deficit to tackle potholes, according to a report by the Asphalt Industry Alliance.

Hazard perception is included in the theory driving test and involves candidates identifying from 14 video clips something that would cause them to take action such as slowing down or changing direction.

After changes were made last year to make the exam more realistic, the pass rate of the practical driving test fell to a nine-year low of 45 per cent.

A survey of a small sample of driving instructors found the majority had been in vehicles that broke down during a lesson at least once in the past 12 months because of pothole damage, and many have adapted lessons to avoid severely damaged roads.

Some learners have even had to abandon a practical driving test after their car was damaged by a pothole, the AA was told.

General advice for drivers includes slowing down if necessary, staying in lane and avoiding big swerves.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said it was “troubling” that lessons and tests were being abandoned because of pothole-related breakdowns.

“The situation is so serious that the hazard perception test and Highway Code need to change to reflect the state of the roads that learner drivers have to learn on,” he said. “There is no advice for drivers about potholes anywhere in the Highway Code yet it is one of the most common hazards.”

The Government said the DVSA kept the driving test under review to make it as effective as possible.