A HOLE LOT OF TROUBLE
DRIVERS WARNED OF ‘POTHOLE HELL’ IN NEXT FEW MONTHS
MOTORISTS have been warned to prepare for ‘pothole hell’ with January, February and March the worst months of the year for claims to be made.
In 2020, councils across England received more than 240,000 complaints about potholes last year - and paid out £862,000 in compensation.
Despite roads being quieter than usual due to coronavirus lockdowns, councils fixed 816,000 potholes across the country.
And Kirklees Council says 28,000 potholes were repaired in the borough last year at a cost of more than £2m.
One motorist who has experienced the misery of potholes at firsthand is Huddersfield barmaid Amanda Bottomley.
She said: “When I moved from Halifax Old Road, Birkby, to Marsh over a year or so ago I was horrified at how many more potholes there are in this area.
“My own car has been damaged by a pothole and I wasn’t able to claim. My son also ran into one too that caused a lot of problems.
“When I visit my family in Newcastle it’s very noticeable how much better their roads are and I hope Kirklees Council can make a major improvement in this area.”
Kirklees even has its own Facebook group where members can post pictures and videos of their worst experiences in a bid to encourage the council to do more.
Clr Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “Repairing our roads is an ongoing battle and responding to calls on frontline services such as potholes is priority for the council as we know how important they are to our residents.
“As we see more vehicles on the roads each year, we see more wear and tear, which in 2021 resulted in over 28,000 potholes being repaired in Kirklees at a cost of £2,069,000.”
Lorna Connelly, Head of Claims at Admiral Motor Insurance, said: “Anyone who drives will be familiar with that sudden ‘clunk’ from roads that are plagued with potholes.
“But potholes are more than just an inconvenience, they can also cause costly damage to your vehicle.
“Our data shows that the number of claims for damage caused by potholes has increased by 39% since 2016 – and the cost will probably only go up as our vehicles become more advanced and costly to repair.
“January, February and March is the worst time of year for pothole claims, with over 57% more claims made over this period than any other season, as road surfaces become unsettled by cooler temperatures.
“Pothole pockets can quickly open up, especially if the weather has been bad, which means they might not have been there the last time you took that route.
“Keep a sharp eye and slow down – swerving can be more dangerous.
“If you think you’ve hit a hum-dinger, get out and check for damage at the safest opportunity.
“Take photos of the pothole and the damage to your car and consider taking your vehicle to a mechanic to check for damage. If you have comprehensive cover, claiming for pothole damage through your insurer should be a straightforward process, but it can affect your no claims bonus and you may need to pay an excess.
“You can always try to claim compensation for any damage caused to your car, through whoever is responsible for the road you were driving on, although there is no guarantee you will be successful. To help, we’ve created a step-by-step guide explaining how to claim compensation for pothole damage.
“It’s great that there is funding committed to fixing Britain’s potholes – we know what a huge nuisance they are for our customers.
“However, keeping on top of them is a challenge for local authorities so it’s always best stay alert and keep a lookout for any potholes that might have popped up.”