Pothole problems persist for stressed drivers
New research has found that nearly a fifth of drivers would pay more tax towards road improvements.
Sheffield-based road repairer Roadmender Asphalt commissioned nationally representative research that revealed 19% of people in Birmingham would support a council tax increase of 10% if it went towards road maintenance.
Across the country, this move could raise a potential further £2.5bn for pothole refilling in England alone.
The study also found that 68% of Birmingham respondents to the survey would rather cycle or drive to work than take public transport due to the Covid-19 risk. The study has also highlighted that 37% of respondents cited driving as the most stressful part of their day due to the quality of roads.
Harry Pearl, CEO of Roadmender Asphalt, said: “After a decade of austerity, councils have naturally gravitated towards innovation and have helped launch research and development hubs, working with innovative SMEs. Together, SMEs and councils have started to ask why are pothole repairs filled with the same materials made to build roads, when they can fill potholes with materials made specifically for the job, that may prove to be significantly more efficient and cost-effective.
“Experienced by councils up and down the land, the problem with pothole repairs is they are carried out using a process built around materials designed for building roads rather than fixing them. As a result, the process is more costly, inefficient and ineffective than it needs to be, rather like playing squash with a tennis racquet. You can do it but it’s far from ideal.”
