An estimated 40% increase in road damage from the recent severe weather has pushed the number of potholes in the UK up to one and a half million, according to motoring organisation, the AA.
It warns that claims against local highway authorities and insurance companies are expected to soar way above normal – last year councils paid out £65m in compensation.
AA insurance reports it has received more than three times as many claims for pothole damage this February than last. Most claims concern damage to wheels, particularly alloy wheels shod with low-profile tyres.
However, potholes can also appear on pavements or footways, so landlords and property managers are being warned to ensure that external walkways and car parks are not subject to holes or cracks following the severe weather.
Organisations must always ensure that any necessary repairs and maintenance of external premises are given the same priority as indoor areas.
In one HSE documented case, following repairs to a leaking pipe, a hole was left in a busy hospital walkway for many months. A catering assistant tripped on the dug-up walkway and fell into the hole. Her injuries meant she needed months off work.
Workers had repeatedly reported the hole, including the fact that there had been several minor accidents. But the maintenance department had decided to delay the repair so that several jobs could be ‘batched’ together.
