Drivers in England can find out how their local councils are tackling potholes following the introduction of a new traffic rating system from the Department for Transport (DfT).
The system shows 154 local highway authorities rated as red, amber or green based on road conditions and how effectively they are spending the government’s road maintenance funding.
It has bad news for drivers in Cumberland in Cumbria, Bolton in Greater Manchester, Leicestershire, Suffolk, and Kensington and Chelsea in west London – with all areas classed as red under the system.
In a statement, the DfT said authorities listed in red will receive “dedicated support to bring them into line with best practices” through a £300,000 programme.
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A majority of local highway authorities are also listed as amber, while green-classified areas include Essex, Wiltshire, Coventry, Leeds, and Darlington in County Durham.
The DfT added that the green areas show they are following “best practice” such as investing in long-term preventative measures rather than just patching up potholes, while also maintaining good road conditions.
The map comes after the government’s commitment to provide a total of £7.3bn for local road maintenance funding for the four years up to and including 2029/30 – as part of last year’s budget.
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Total local road maintenance funding for England provided by the government in the current financial year was also nearly £1.6bn, representing a £500m rise compared with the previous year period.
However, a quarter of the extra money was withheld until the end of last year, after authorities had outlined their plans to spend it.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said that “for too long drivers have paid the price because our roads were left to deteriorate”.
“I have heard time and again their frustration on footing the bill because they hit a pothole,” she added, “money they should never have to spend in the first place”.
The minister then said that “we’ve put our money where our mouth is” by increasing the funding for local highway authorities.
“Now it’s over to them to spend the money wisely, and for the first time we are making sure the public can see how well councils are doing in delivering the improvements they want to see in their local area,” she added.
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Common problems caused by potholes include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels, according to the RAC.
The motoring group also estimates that a typical repair bill for a family car suffering pothole damage beyond a puncture is £590.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “While there are examples of good road maintenance practice taking place, this isn’t consistent across the country and means drivers have for too long been left with substandard roads.
“We hope this initiative, plus the promise of longer-term funding for councils to allow them to plan and carry out much-needed preventative maintenance, means we’re finally on the way to having smoother, better roads.”
But shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said “a map won’t stop tyres blowing or suspensions snapping”.
“Motorists, already being squeezed tight by Labour, deserve real action to back them,” he added. “Only the Conservatives will deliver that.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will be discussing the new traffic light system and the government’s £7.3bn funding for road maintenance on today’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips show on Sky News from 8.30am.
