Motorists are being warned of the continued danger posed by the UK’s poorly maintained roads, and is urging the government to take action to clear the £10 billion maintenance backlog that has been allowed to build up.

Recent figures from the World Economic Forum show the UK dropping from 24th to 28th place for the quality of its road infrastructure, putting it behind Chile, Cyprus and Croatia – and on a par with the southern African state of Namibia.
Chief Executive of road safety and breakdown recovery specialist GEM Motoring Assist, David Williams MBE said:

“The UK road network is in an appalling state. This has an enormous financial impact on motorists, who most of the time must bear the cost of repairs to paintwork, suspension and tyres. Those who can’t afford these repairs risk making journeys in vehicles that are potentially unsafe.  Our telephone lines continue to be very busy with enquiries from members with questions about pothole damage to their vehicles, so we are today offering advice that will not only keep them safe on their journeys but will also help them deal with the consequences of pothole damage.”

Stay safe on the road
– Always be aware of dangerous potholes on your journeys. If necessary, plan to use routes with fewer or no potholes.
– Remember to keep your distance from the car in front. Motorists will often brake or swerve suddenly if they have spotted a pothole too late, so ensure there is a big enough gap to allow you to slow down safely.

– Make sure you stick to the speed limit and slow down on smaller roads and residential streets where potholes may be prevalent. Hitting a pothole at speed will cause much more damage to your vehicle.

– Never swerve to avoid a pothole; always slow down or stop completely if necessary, checking that there are no cars close behind you. Drive over the pothole slowly or manoeuvre around it if it’s safe to do so.