Achi news desk-
Potholes cost the economy around £14 billion, according to a report.
Car crashes, accidents caused by the craters and the resulting congestion contribute to the huge bill, experts found.
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Emissions damage caused by speed changes and avoiding bumps is also a factor, says the Center for Economics and Business Research.
Douglas McWilliams, author of the report, said: “Potholes waste drivers’ time, endanger cyclists’ lives and harm the environment.
“The government can afford to act. Why not?”
Chris Whitwood, who is standing as Phil Borut in this week’s Rotherham local elections, insists people are just “fed up” with the state of the roads.
He said: “Potholes hurt the British economy and you don’t have to be a genius to understand that there is a connection between investment in infrastructure and economic growth.”
A Government source said: “We are investing in the biggest ever increase in funding for local road improvements, made possible by £8.3bn of reallocated HS2 funding.
“To make sure that the councils do a good job, we make them publish the completed and planned works.”
The government previously said £38m would be spent on improving England’s deadliest roads.
But another report last month found the pothole repair backlog had hit a record £16.3bn, up from £14bn a year ago.
