JCB has joined a new partnership launched by road users and industry to address the ‘scourge’ of potholes.
New figures show pothole damage to vehicles has hit a five-year high. The research by the AA – released on National Pothole Day – shows the organisation dealt with 631,852 pothole-related incidents in 2023.
The newly-formed Pothole Partnership has been formed by the AA, the National Motorcyclists Council, British Cycling, IAM RoadSmart, the British Motorcyclists Federation and manufacturer JCB.
AA president Edmund King said, “Currently, we often have a vicious circle of: pothole formed; damage caused; pothole patched; pothole reappears with more damage caused – when what we need are more permanent repairs. Potholes are the number one concern for 96% of drivers and can be fatal for those on two wheels so hopefully pressure from the Pothole Partnership will lead to permanent repairs.”
JCB general manager Ben Rawding added, “As we mark National Pothole Day, JCB is delighted to be part of the Pothole Partnership, a group committed to fixing Britain’s roads. Tackling the national backlog of potholes properly will involve investment in innovation and new technologies to ensure permanent fixes, not temporary repairs. Britain’s motorists, motorcyclists and cyclists deserve nothing less.”
The award-winning JCB Pothole Pro is designed to sort out any pothole repair or large reinstatement operation, ‘efficiently, economically, and permanently’. The manufacturer said it can repair a typical pothole in just eight minutes.
The Pothole Partnership has unveiled a five-point plan, which is being sent to central and local government:
- Permanent: Local authorities to limit the practice of temporary pothole repairs or patches and, where possible, every pothole or patch to be repaired permanently.
- Precise: All local authorities/contractors to adhere to UK-wide repair and inspection standards, and report annually on the repairs undertaken.
- Price: Government to demonstrate greater urgency by accelerating and increasing spending of the £8.3 billion pothole funding for England in the first three years – with total clarity on the distribution to local authorities.
- Provision: Central and local government to guarantee ring-fencing of ALL road maintenance funding to help deliver innovations that enable permanent repairs.
- Progress: Full transparency from local authorities on their roads repair backlog, categorised by potholes, patching works and road resurfacing.
