Drivers across England are now able to see how well their local authority is tackling potholes with the launch of a new traffic light rating system.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said a new mapping tool 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.
Those that scored ‘green’, including Leeds, were able to demonstrate they are following best practice, such as investing in more long-term preventative measures rather than just patching up potholes.
‘Amber’ ranked councils showed some of these qualities with room for improvement in individual areas.
Those rated ‘red’ are not yet meeting the expected standards in one or several areas measured by the ratings.
Both City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council are rated amber, meaning there’s room for improvement.
Last week opposition Lib Dem councillors called for a change in the York highways repair policy to prioritise more potholes.
In response, Cllr Kate Ravilious, Labour’s executive member for transport, said: “This year we invested over £12 million in our highway maintenance programme: more than ever before.
“One quarter of that budget is spent on preventative maintenance such as surface dressing and large patch repairs, which slow the decline of the highway, reduce the risk of potholes forming and is the most cost effective approach.”
In November’s budget, the Government committed to providing a total of £7.3 billion for local road maintenance funding for the four years up to and including 2029/30.
Common vehicle problems caused by potholes include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.
The RAC estimates a typical repair bill for a family car suffering pothole damage beyond a puncture is £590.
