The true horror of pothole injuries and deaths were revealed in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Department of Transport.
Over a five year period there were ten fatalities and 262 life threatening serious injuries reported.
While much social media comment revolves around the damage and costs to motorists (itself highly understandable and unacceptable) the burdens borne by those cycling are disproportionate. The figures are quite staggering.
Claims
Analysis of claims by cyclists against local authorities shows the massive difference that poor road surfaces have between cycling and driving.
Cycling incidents cost Councils an average settlement of £80,000 reflecting the higher incidence of death or bodily injury, while in comparison the average claim settled for drivers was just £338 over the five years, which were primarily damage only.
Both are wholly unacceptable and our Councils need to take their responsibilities towards road user safety seriously. In Hampshire this responsibility has been poorly lacking.
A local Hampshire incident
Cycling UK has published a video over a tragic incident in Southampton where:
"Martin Wilson set out on a short, familiar 1-km bike ride to collect his daughter after finishing work. Minutes later, he was lying unconscious in the road outside his own home."
"He suffered facial fractures, spinal injuries, brain bleeds, and months of recovery."
Take care as it contains some graphic images.
In Whitchurch the road surfaces are horrendous and all road users are suffering. The poor maintenance, haphazard patching is telling its toll. A wad full of dry asphalt flattened down with a spade or a boot is not a repair but a pathetic bodge.
Cycling UK developed 'Fill that Hole' as a tool that passes road defects to the bodies responsible.
Reporting a pothole can significantly increase the likelihood of the council fixing it – because the local authority can’t claim not to have known about it.
"Crucially, if the authority fails to take action, these reports can help others in the future should they need to claim for damage or injury against the council if that road defect hasn’t been fixed."
PLEASE REPORT HERE
https://www.fillthathole.org.uk/