In a move that local motorists would likely welcome, the UK government has announced it will back a smartphone application for reporting potholes, to the tune of £30 000 (about R520 000).
"The government has given £30 000 to back the development of an innovative smartphone application to report potholes," UK roads minister Robert Goodwill announced last week.
The UK's Department for Transport (DfT) pledged the cash to enable CTC, the National Cycling Charity, to revamp its Fill That Hole Web site and develop a new app compatible with smartphones running Android software.
Over nine million iPhone users can download the Web site's current app to report potholed roads to their councils. The new app, says DfT, could boost that figure to over 26 million and is expected to be ready in February, at the start of what the UK refers to as "pothole season" when the winter damage to roads is at its greatest.
Goodwill says the UK government is serious about potholes. "At best they are an irritation but at worst they can damage vehicles and pose a serious danger to cyclists. That is why we want people to tell councils where to find them so they can fill them in. This app means more people are going to be able to report potholes more easily."
Long-term care
Filling potholes in quickly is only one half of the story. Research has also shown a long-term approach to road maintenance, rather than patch and mend, can save councils and taxpayers money and potentially save lives thanks to better road conditions.
CTC originally developed its app for cyclists, who can receive life-changing injuries from accidents caused by potholes, but it is now used by all types of road user, from delivery drivers to motorists concerned about potential damage to their vehicle.
The app sends local authorities up-to-the-minute information about potholes which the council may not otherwise know about, allowing them to identify trouble spots needing action fast. In the past year around £23.8 million (around R411 million) was paid in compensation by local authorities across England due to the poor condition of their roads according to the Asphalt Industry Alliance.
The support for the app comes as more local authorities adopt new government guidelines which urge councils to plan extensive maintenance well in advance, rather than years of costly 'patching' as potholes appear - saving the taxpayer money.
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