In a recent survey, leading insurance specialist, Admiral, found that 91% of motorists in the UK feel there has been an increase in the number of potholes on our roads in the last year. And, with ‘Old Man Winter’ up to his old tricks so early in the season, many feel that things will get bumpier on our roads before they get any better.
YouGov partnered with Admiral insurance to conduct a ‘Survey of British Motorists’. The survey included 2,100 survey participants who were asked whether the number of potholes on our roads have increased in the last year. The survey found that nine out of ten participants believed the number of potholes on UK roads has increased since 2009. Motorists in London reported far higher numbers, with 98% of respondents in town reporting an increase in the number of potholes.
Admiral also asked the same survey participants if they had sustained damage to their vehicles as a result of potholes. A surprising 38% reported that they had sustained damage to their vehicles as a result of potholes in the road. Even more surprising, participants in Scotland topped the list of those sustaining vehicle damage, with 58% of Scottish respondents claiming vehicle damage due to potholes, far ahead of every other region in the UK.
Unfortunately, people who have sustained vehicle damage as a result of potholes will likely not be able to claim damages from the councils who are responsible for our road conditions. Admiral insurance claim statistics show an increase in pothole claims by customers this year. In 2010, the number of claims made due to pothole damage was double the number of claims made in 2009.
Scotland has been the hardest hit region in the UK by cold this year. Couple that with the fact that the number of potholes on our roads is likely to increase before councils across the country can repair them, and you’ve got a recipe for Pothole Disaster. It’s likely that many more motorists in Scotland will hit a pothole and sustain damage to their vehicle, unless they drive very carefully, and keep both eyes peeled for potholes!
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