If you have spent any time driving around certain parts of
England lately, you will know that money is desperately needed to be
spent on the roads. Repairs are needed for the potholes scattered across
the road surface like pepperoni on a pizza, and even more than that, we
need money to be spent on maintaining the roads so that we don't end up
with yet more potholes as soon as the weather turns colder again (well,
that's if it ever warms up!). Sadly, it seems the opposite is
happening. Many councils across England have been reducing their road
maintenance budgets by 10 percent in 2011.
Road maintenance budgets are primarily used for road surfaces. Both maintaining them (although local councils are a long way behind with this), and repairing potholes and cracks (which, again, the councils are behind in achieving). This makes driving more dangerous, as poorly maintained road surfaces may not provide enough grip to stop your car in the event of an accident, while potholes and cracks should be avoided at all costs.
If you do drive over a crack or a pothole at speed, you run the risk of damaging your car's tyres, wheels, and even chassis. A simple pothole could cause your car to be written off. It is not always easy, but the sensible thing to do is drive carefully so that no contact is made between any potholes and your tyres. Admittedly, on some roads, that can be quite challenging.
Road safety budgets have also been cut, with Camden Council in London cutting its road safety budget by a massive 70 percent in 2011. This budget covers things like rehabilitation courses for those who have committed a variety of motoring offences, and programmes to educate young drivers. Both of these have very likely been reduced, or axed completely.
it is understandable that budgets have been reduced in the current economic climate, but while the councils have been cutting their road related budgets rather dramatically, the average cuts for other council services has only been 6 percent during the same year. Also, while a lollipop person earns an average of £3000 a year, the cost of each road fatality is approximately £1.6 million. It makes no sense to cut these budgets.
So it looks like we will have to make do with the limited road care and safety services we have for the time being. By driving carefully, and safely, hopefully we can not only avoid needing any rehabilitation courses (no speeding!), but also avoid any damage to our cars. Making sure your car is in good condition by having a regular car service, checking the condition of your brakes and tyres regularly, will also help keep you safe on the roads this year.
Road maintenance budgets are primarily used for road surfaces. Both maintaining them (although local councils are a long way behind with this), and repairing potholes and cracks (which, again, the councils are behind in achieving). This makes driving more dangerous, as poorly maintained road surfaces may not provide enough grip to stop your car in the event of an accident, while potholes and cracks should be avoided at all costs.
If you do drive over a crack or a pothole at speed, you run the risk of damaging your car's tyres, wheels, and even chassis. A simple pothole could cause your car to be written off. It is not always easy, but the sensible thing to do is drive carefully so that no contact is made between any potholes and your tyres. Admittedly, on some roads, that can be quite challenging.
Road safety budgets have also been cut, with Camden Council in London cutting its road safety budget by a massive 70 percent in 2011. This budget covers things like rehabilitation courses for those who have committed a variety of motoring offences, and programmes to educate young drivers. Both of these have very likely been reduced, or axed completely.
it is understandable that budgets have been reduced in the current economic climate, but while the councils have been cutting their road related budgets rather dramatically, the average cuts for other council services has only been 6 percent during the same year. Also, while a lollipop person earns an average of £3000 a year, the cost of each road fatality is approximately £1.6 million. It makes no sense to cut these budgets.
So it looks like we will have to make do with the limited road care and safety services we have for the time being. By driving carefully, and safely, hopefully we can not only avoid needing any rehabilitation courses (no speeding!), but also avoid any damage to our cars. Making sure your car is in good condition by having a regular car service, checking the condition of your brakes and tyres regularly, will also help keep you safe on the roads this year.
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