I was talking to a work friend who was driving home from work last week hit a pothole and in the hour she was waiting for a recovery truck 8 other cars were damaged and had to pull off the road!! Police finally closed that section of road!

on the way to shops today I hit the biggest pothole made a massive noise just saw it a bit to late..... I have looked all round the alloy no damage that I can see, steering seems to go stright no issues turning, no warning lights I got my gf to drive at me slowly (must of took some self restrain on her part haha) and couldn't see anything out of place, is there anything I should of noticed?

I know BMW are bad for potholes breaking the alloy , I have the larger wheels that you can upgrade to on the vrs models but just nothing I can see

Anyone else got some pothole horror stories?

I lost a tyre to one a couple of years ago, same description as you , but I immediatly felt something was wrong :( it just went 'pop'. no spare in the fiat either, and the "repair can " is no good for a popped tyre... luckily they are XL and I could easily drive (max speed about 20 mph though) to my local tyre place for a replacement tyre!

I tried the usual claim from the council stuff, but they said they had checked the road within the allowed timescale (I obviously took photo's ect , then reported it to be filled) so I got nothing :( I'm very wary now, especially in the dark...

ah hopefully if I havn't noticed anything after a 15 mile drive home I won't notice anything!!!

I am usual so careful to!!

A press release by my local council (Harrow, London) stated that pothole reports were double previous rates @ 60 a day.

If every body took the trouble to report potholes, say just restricting their reports to their jouney to and from work, just imagine the difference that would be make to the speed at which these things could be repaired.

Don't be a bystander, report it ! Its dead-easy to do - its won't diminish your street cred !

Do it on -line here nationally :-

http://www.potholes.co.uk/

Or on your local authority site.

I've reported at least 7 potholes in the last 2 and a half to 3 weeks, which I have encountered on my commutting route which crosses the area occupied by three different London local authorities, At least three of these holes have been repaired to date

Save yourself and some else from damage and injury.

Potholes are a danger to Paedestrians too.

And if you get damage or injury claim for it !

Roads never used to break-up as badly as this in years gone by because they were properly and regularly maintained - I'm old enough to remember the winter of 1963 and damage then wasn't anything like it is today,

Allegedly we are a first world country. Demand the infrastructure appropriate to this status.

Don't sit there like some limp dipstick with you're finger up your j*cks*e twiddling your i-player, report-it.

Nick

Edited 5 March, 201016 yr by Clunkclick

I hit a newly developed one yesterday on the way to work and now I have a loud thrumming noise. Probably a wheel bearing. :'(

Don't forget to display one of these in your windscreen....

A press release by my local council (Harrow, London) stated that pothole reports were double previous rates @ 60 a day.

If every body took the trouble to report potholes, say just restricting their reports to their jouney to and from work, just imagine the difference that would be make to the speed at which these things could be repaired.

Don't be a bystander, report it ! Its dead-easy to do - its won't diminish your street cred !

Do it on -line here nationally :-

http://www.potholes.co.uk/

Or on your local authority site.

I've reported at least 7 potholes in the last 2 and a half to 3 weeks, which I have encountered on my commutting route which crosses the area occupied by three different London local authorities, At least three of these holes have been repaired to date

Save yourself and some else from damage and injury.

Potholes are a danger to Paedestrians too.

And if you get damage or injury claim for it !

Roads never used to break-up as badly as this in years gone by because they were properly and regularly maintained - I'm old enough to remember the winter of 1963 and damage then wasn't anything like it is today,

Allegedly we are a first world country. Demand the infrastructure appropriate to this status.

Don't sit there like some limp dipstick with you're finger up your j*cks*e twiddling your i-player, report-it.

Nick

well said

Don't forget to display one of these in your windscreen....

and I SO have to get one of those Andy... should include things like " I pay my local council to SERVE me not to SPY on me..." ....... as a bumper sticker...

Also try http://www.fixmystreet.com/

Reported 2 early last week, just round the corner from my house, and 1 of them has been fixed. Not checked the other yet...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NOVELTY-TAX-DISC-HOLDER-YES-I-HAVE-PAID-MY-TAX_W0QQitemZ200445740534QQcategoryZ72231QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DDLSL%252BSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BIEW%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D10%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8297627237564724801

£1.59 + 30p postage. Just bought mine

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NOVELTY-TAX-DISC-HOLDER-YES-I-HAVE-PAID-MY-TAX_W0QQitemZ200445740534QQcategoryZ72231QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DDLSL%252BSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BIEW%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D10%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8297627237564724801

£1.59 + 30p postage. Just bought mine

Unfortunately, buying a humourous sticker to put on your windscreen won't do much to solve the problem but will be a nice little earner for the person making them.

The real problem is 30-35 years of underfunding of road maintenance.

Without making an undue political point, the underfunding started with the economic troubles of the 1970s and wasn't reversed when the Conservatives came to power in 1980. In fact further cutbacks were made then , for tax reduction purposes, which made the then emerging problems worse. I think one event above all others started all this decline - the installation of the North Sea High Pressure Gas Mains system throughout the UK in the late 1960s and 1970s. This resulted in a large number of roads, which had previously been in pristine condition, being dug up and then patch repaired. This seemed to give, together with the economic restrictions of the 1970s, license to the road repair authorities to dispense with full and regular road re-surfacing and just patch repair. In the previous decade (1960s) regular road re-surfacing was the norm . I recall even side-roads in my locality being completely resurfaced every 2-4, years - perhaps that was a bit excessive and represents action of a vested interest operating at the the opposite extreme.

Seems the high-ups made a decision 30 years ago only to fund UK infrastructure to 2nd World standards and that the funding previously earmarked for this has gone elsewhere . . . one of which is to fund speculative financial operations of the City of London institutions, others include idiot overpaid celebrities and sportsmen.

What's needed is for the various bodies that are charged with road repair to be properly funded and for the national politicians to get behind this renewal with a published programme.

It won't happen unless its made a manifesto item in the forthcoming election.

In the meantime, best you can do is report problems using the mechanism that the road repair authorities have made availble.

So stop whingeing and start reporting, monitor progress and hold the relevant bodies to account.

Its your country, which allegedly we all love so much, get involved !

Nick

Edited 6 March, 201016 yr by Clunkclick

I'm in the middle of a claim against a council for a new tyre - its going through their insurance. According to them they are investigating it (that was in December, I'll be patient for a couple more weeks then send another letter) I have a good case as they missed out the inspections and failed to adhere to the code of practise for highways.

http://www.ukroadsliaisongroup.org/pdfs/p03_well_maintained_highways.pdf

yes it boring to read but if your cars been F*ked by a pot hole and you want your money back its worth it. Page 83 and 94 is the items you need and what the council class the road as - this in turn determines how often the road should be inspected.

I never knew you could report, I have now reported it unfortunitly was on a dual carridgeway 20 miles from my house so didn't get pictures but if it saves someone hitting it all the better

driving an obscenly low car,i have a sixth sense for potholes now,its like using the force!!!!!!!!!!

Edited 7 March, 201016 yr by oilburninnut

I'd suggest reporting them directly to the relevant local authority. Using third party websites may seem like a good idea, but having seen the other end of that communication chain, the information is usually not in the most useful form when it (finally) arrives with the highways dept.

If folks want to try and get these holes filled in more quickly, the best way to approach it is to give the local authority clear and helpful information so they can act quickly. I'd suggest the following key points are covered:

- Roughly the size of the pothole (e.g., 300mm across)

- Roughly the depth of the pothole (e.g, 20mm)

- Where the pothole is (a good way to identify this in a built up area is by the number of the nearest street light (as they should all have a number plate on them usually about 2m above the ground), e.g., near column 37 on Smith Road)

- The date and time you saw it

Might seem like a bit of fuss, but it will help the highways dept to handle the matter more effectively. Obviously don't go measuring the pothole with a ruler, just guestimate it as you pass it.

Just a suggestion.

Edited 7 March, 201016 yr by yashicamat

I'd suggest reporting them directly to the relevant local authority. Using third party websites may seem like a good idea, but having seen the other end of that communication chain, the information is usually not in the most useful form when it (finally) arrives with the highways dept.

If folks want to try and get these holes filled in more quickly, the best way to approach it is to give the local authority clear and helpful information so they can act quickly. I'd suggest the following key points are covered:

- Roughly the size of the pothole (e.g., 300mm across)

- Roughly the depth of the pothole (e.g, 20mm)

- Where the pothole is (a good way to identify this in a built up area is by the number of the nearest street light (as they should all have a number plate on them usually about 2m above the ground), e.g., near column 37 on Smith Road)

- The date and time you saw it

Might seem like a bit of fuss, but it will help the highways dept to handle the matter more effectively. Obviously don't go measuring the pothole with a ruler, just guestimate it as you pass it.

Just a suggestion.

You could also give an indication of the likelihood of the pothole causing an accident,/ injury/ damage to vehicle occupants/pedestrians - strong/medium/slight, and tell 'em how long its been in this state, whether its on a bus/public service vehicle route, whether there's a hospital/OAP home nearby or a busy junction/blind sighted hill/tricky bend etc. Given that the road repair authorities will be overwhelmed at the moment, giving additional info like this will help them set priorities.

Nick

You could also give an indication of the likelihood of the pothole causing an accident,/ injury/ damage to vehicle occupants/pedestrians - strong/medium/slight, and tell 'em how long its been in this state, whether its on a bus/public service vehicle route, whether there's a hospital/OAP home nearby or a busy junction/blind sighted hill/tricky bend etc. Given that the road repair authorities will be overwhelmed at the moment, giving additional info like this will help them set priorities.

Nick

The size and depth should give them sufficient information to determine how much of a hazard it is, plus local authorities generally use highway inspectors to investigate such issues and they'll know their patch like the back of their hand (including bus routes, ped useage, what the road is like etc.). The only problem I can see with asking people to submit that extra information is that it can be slightly subjective (a "busy" junction to one person isn't the same to another for instance) and also the more information that is asked of people, the less likely they are to report it accurately if at all.

Just my 2p's worth . . .

This morning the BBC reported on a town in Germany where residents can "sponsor" a pothole. They can pay to have them repaired and their names will appear on them :p

The size and depth should give them sufficient information to determine how much of a hazard it is, plus local authorities generally use highway inspectors to investigate such issues and they'll know their patch like the back of their hand (including bus routes, ped useage, what the road is like etc.). The only problem I can see with asking people to submit that extra information is that it can be slightly subjective (a "busy" junction to one person isn't the same to another for instance) and also the more information that is asked of people, the less likely they are to report it accurately if at all.

Just my 2p's worth . . .

Got the impression from an article in the local rag that the council are hiring short-term contract people to supplement permanent staff in order to meet this once in thirty year event. So local knowledge might not be available

Nick

Edited 11 March, 201016 yr by Clunkclick

Got the impression from an article in the local rag that the council are hiring short-term contract people to supplement permanent staff in order to meet this once in thirty year event. So local knowledge might not be available

Nick

Councils now have a three point criteria - Size - dinnerplates , or measurements required . Depth - above 50 cm - ability of driver to get compensation ,if couhty is sied -

The response seems to be highly variable as between different Councils.My local council, Harrow, seem to have done quite a good job. They have already repaired more than 50% of the potholes I've reported within two weeks of doing so.

Other local authorities are less responsive and somewhat devious. So lets's start naming and shaming.

Hertfordshire County Council reports no:1540886, made on the 1st March 2010, major pothole for which the repair standard, quoted on the E-mail I received Below), was 24 HOURS !

The E-mail says it was resolved. That's something of a terminlogical inexactitude. I drove over it today - definitely not resolved only marked.

Marked, but still unrepaired - remind you of anything . . . hospital waiting lists.

This is a massive pothole on a busy main road (Sandy Lane Northwood) , which is the result of a complete man-hole emplacement sinking over 2 inches, Smack bang in the middle of the Northbound carriageway.

Still unrepaired after two weeks

To make it worse the pothole is located at a busy T- junction and on a bus route.

How there hasn't been a major accident . . . . . ?

SHAME ON YOU Three Rivers District Council/Hertfordshire County Council/Three Valleys Water.

I hope somebody sues your ars* off.

Next stop the Top-Gear and potholes-are-us type websites. Happy snaps to follow

Subjectâ€

From: [email protected] ([email protected])

Sent: 12 March 2010 10:22:28

To: [email protected]

The highway fault you reported on www.hertsdirect.org has been resolved. Reference Number: 1540886 Subject: Urgent Pothole 24 Hr Repair Description: Close to lampost number 17 sunken manhole cover very deep hole, urgent attention required. Reported date: 01/03/2010 23:25:14 --------------------Street: Watford Road Town: South Oxhey --------------------Status: Resolved Noted for Future Ref Notes: we have already received notification of this fault -------------------- Track progress at http://www.hertsdirect.org/actweb/hfr/default.cfm?enquiry_number=1540886 Hertfordshire Highways - working to improve your roads ****Disclaimer****The information in this message should be regarded as confidential and is intended for the addressee only unless explicitly stated. If you have received this message in error it must be deleted and the sender notified. The views expressed in this message are personal and not necessarily those of Hertfordshire County Council unless explicitly stated. Please be aware that emails sent to or received from Hertfordshire County Council may be intercepted and read by the council. Interception will only occur to ensure compliance with council policies or procedures or regulatory obligations, to prevent or deter crime, or for the purposes of essential maintenance or support of the email system.

Nick

Edited 16 March, 201016 yr by Clunkclick

I was in a car with a friend when she bent the steel wheel on her Metro. The hole she hit was big enough to hide a Buffalo in it (she wasn’t the most observant of people). The council paid up, but partly because we exchanged details with a man at the side of the road………………………..he was just inspecting the broken alloy on his Omega!

Ps did you ‘Vain of my life’? Or did you mean Bane of my life?

I had an unexpected sick call at the end of last week and when I returned to work on Tuesday the Hertfordshire repair done. Mind you, it was only a temporary repair, they just tarmaced over the sinking manhole cover.

The power of Briskoda ?

It not just the damage to car. Being a switched-on cookie who is able to take avoiding action isn't the end of the story, becuause your unexpected girations are likely to cause vehicle collisions.

The othernight, watching the bloke on the telly who is cycling from the northern tip of Alaska to the southern tip of Terra Del Fuego and climbing every notable peak on-route (How establishment is that ?), there were miles and miles of compacted grit as well as metalled roads in the middle of Alaska and I didn't see one pothole. Now if freeze thaw is going to do the roads . . . . Sarah Palin as roads Cszar ?

Still waiting for Harrow Council to repair the multiple potholes in the side road outside my house - as the eastern philosphers say, sometimes it easier to stuff a fat bird through the eye of a needle than it is to win the Premium Bonds,

Nick

Edited 25 March, 201016 yr by Clunkclick