Potholes push UK roads down global list
Potholes and poor drainage pushed the UK down into 15th place in a global survey into the condition of roads in different countries.
DiscoverCars asked more than 11,000 drivers to rate the road quality in the countries they have visited.
The UK scored 7.6 out of 10, with potholes, poor drainage and a lack of road markings identified as the main issues. New Zealand topped the charts with an 8.7 score.
However, the state of UK roads could be even worse than the score suggests, with the survey only including ratings from visitors, meaning most many not have driven on smaller, residential roads, where pothole damage is most extreme.
Aleksandrs Buraks, head of growth at DiscoverCars, said: “Potholes are not just an annoyance, they’re a hazard; driving over them can cause damage to your car and even put you at risk of losing control of your vehicle, putting you in danger. Drivers are especially at risk in wet weather, as potholes are much harder to see when they fill with water.
“When driving on a road with surface damage, the best thing to do is avoid going over the potholes if you can. If you can’t, make sure you slow down, while maintaining a safe distance from cars ahead of you or behind, while keeping a good grip on your steering wheel.
“Although insurance should cover the cost of damage, that doesn’t make up for the inconvenience of having to wait for any repairs or even waiting for roadside assistance.”
