Britain’s biggest pothole just around the corner

The early onset of freezing weather this year is likely to result in many new candidates for the dubious title of ‘Britain’s biggest pothole’ according to the Environmental Transport Association (ETA).

Andrew Harmsworth earlier this year reported a mega-pothole 3-metres long, a metre wide on average and up to 6 inches deep, which he encounters each day as he cycles along Longstanton Road, between Oakington and Longstanton on his way to Cambridge

Potholes are an inconvenience to motorists because over time they can result in damage to a vehicle’s wheels, tyres and suspension, but to cyclists and motorcyclists they represent a potential danger.

Potholes can occur when water enters a crack in the road surface and then expands as it freezes. If repairs are carried out, they are often carried out quickly and it is often the case that the pothole re-appears.

Pothole-reporting websites such as fillthathole.org.uk are reporting an upsurge of potholes since the start of the cold weather.

Cyclists can insure themselves against damage caused by potholes. Cycle insurance from the ETA includes cover against accidental damage (including at race events), personal accident, a breakdown service for cyclists and much more. Find out more

How best to tackle potholes

Over recent decades, the government at town, county and government level has failed to invest in well-engineered road surfaces. Sadly, the recession means there might be no proper investment for another ten years, but there are things you can do now.

The first thing to do when you encounter a pothole is to use one of the many reporting websites in order to alert the local authority, who are bound in law to deal with the most serious road defects within 24 hours. Three examples are fixmystreet (www.fixmystreet.com), fillthathole (www.fillthathole.org.uk/) or potholes.co.uk (www.potholes.co.uk).

In theory it is possible to claim compensation for damage or injury sustained as a result of a pothole or road defect, but in practice this can be a convoluted process and a payout is not guaranteed. A good cycle insurance policy will pay for accidental damage of this type.