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Has anyone else noticed the way in which our country roads, especially their edges, seem to have an accelerating failure rate in recent years, becoming ever narrower? My theory is that there is now an unprecedented army of small heavy delivery vans with high pressure tyres (usually well over 40psi) and wider tracks than older models, destroying the tarmac with their nearside wheels as they pass each other. Worse if they use cheap tyres with hard rubber. Not yet as bad as sub-saharan Africa where ever larger multiwheel drive trucks have rendered many of the provincial roads, well maintained in the colonial times of 100yrs ago, but now impassable for ordinary cars when it rains. Already one of the two roads to my tiny village is so bad that many villagers won't use it, even when it is (rarely) dry (drainage has totally failed).
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More likely that the budget for maintenance is now inadequate - just as potholes have increased, rural road maintenance has suffered.
For responsible local authorities they would be very low priority!!
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Not just delivery vehicles but ever larger/more numerous SUVs too.
People no longer have the patience or courtesy to wait an narrow points grinding the edge of the pavement away.
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There is a road nearby that was just about single track in parts, which through heavier traffic and lorries ignoring a 7.5 tonne limit has actually got wider due to traffic running on verges. When the council patches and 'resurfaces' it gradually expands the width. The problem is the road is not properly built so the edges just crumble. They have put kerbs in on a couple of stretches but no most of it.
There is an increasing number of people who assume they can get though any gap and just aim for it. There are 2 useful routes that my wife just won't use now. Even if you know how to deal with these people (either get off the road or stake your claim to the middle) you are likely to end up swerving into a pothole.
One thing's sure, self driving cars won't work on these roads.
Remember when it was normal to give way to people going uphill?
Last edited by: Manatee on Tue 2 Dec 25 at 13:47
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>> There is a road nearby that was just about single track in parts, which through
>> heavier traffic and lorries ignoring a 7.5 tonne limit has actually got wider due to
>> traffic running on verges.
We have exactly the same issue here. It's made worse by a bridge over the West Coast Railway being closed due to structural issues with the Council and Network Rail spending forever sorting repairs.
I won't use the back diversion any more; too much ag.
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All the gas mains around here have been replaced. Alas the roads (and pavements) now look like shifting tectonic plates.
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>> One thing's sure, self driving cars won't work on these roads.
They may work better if they can “talk” to each other and agree which has priority without the emotion and incompetence confusing the issue.
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>> Remember when it was normal to give way to people going uphill?
Back in the good old days when a fully laden 40bhp car might struggle to get moving on a serious incline or burn out the clutch!
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Agricultural vehicles have a big part to play in the destruction of our roads and verges particularly when involved in passing each other. Over the years the size (and weight) of tractors and corresponding implements has increased significantly. Its not difficulty for them to whip a couple of feet off a verge.
Here's a prime example of the extremities of the roads collapsing:
tinyurl.com/5n66vu4c (Google Street View)
You can clearly see how the edges of the road are subsiding. To have a half comfortable ride I have to drive down the centre of the road.
Last edited by: Fullchat on Wed 3 Dec 25 at 10:39
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That could almost be the local road I mentioned only yours is wider.
Lot of agri traffic round here as there's a massive flour mill down by the Nene.
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Rural road destruction - Terry
