Delivery drivers will identify potholes for £2.5bn repair scheme

THE nation’s biggest potholes are to be mapped by Uber and Tesco delivery drivers as part of a new roads surveying scheme, the Transport Secretary has announced.

Grant Shapps said a deal had been done with four major transport companies, also including Ocado and Deliveroo,

enabling them to share data they already collect from their drivers on the state of the roads.

The reports will feed into a new digital survey that will allow the Department for Transport to see where the deepest, most dangerous potholes are and prioritise them for repairs funding.

It comes as part of the Government’s £2.5billion programme for pothole filling and road resurfacing. The department said that as part of the scheme 319 miles of roads had already been repaired during lockdown while there was less traffic.

Alongside the pothole scheme, ministers have also earmarked £2 billion to create more cycle lanes as well as upgrade existing ones.

Mr Shapps said the efforts to improve the nation’s roads and fill in potholes were being ramped up to encourage more people to go back to work following the lockdown.

He said: “I want our roads to be as safe as possible, so during the lockdown we’ve resurfaced hundreds of miles of road. But now I want to go further by identifying critical potholes and ensuring these are fixed as quickly as possible. We’re teaming up with delivery companies, who know the roads well, in order to map out where remaining potholes exist and then relentlessly target them with our record £2.5billion to pothole repair fund.

“Better road surfaces benefit motorists and cyclists alike ensuring the back to school and work environment is safer for everyone,” Mr Shapps added.

Charlie Wren, director of operations at Deliveroo, said: “Deliveroo riders go above and beyond to bring people the food they love, and this is a great way to make sure they, and other road users, are safe on the road.

“We’re looking forward to working with the Government on this important scheme to help make the roads safer for Deliveroo riders and others.”