Britain's roads!

keith

Member
Messages
624
Without meaning to get a reputation as a grumpy old git, always complaining on here about the state of public transport, the London Mayor and ULEZ etc, I'm afraid I must make mention of a problem we all have to suffer from for a greater or lesser extent. The new levels of the state of our disgraceful roads.
Travelling through London yesterday evening required that I drove through Camden, never a nice place at the best of times particularly on a Saturday night, but now we must add in a new height in decrepit roads. They are no longer potholes, but strings of canyons and deep craters where the surface has all but gone. Whilst I'm no fan of cyclist's, it must be something akin to committing an act of self harm to ride any distance, and whilst everywhere in and around the Capital is becoming a 20mph limit, as no doubt, to deter motorists from using their cars, alom5with all the speed cameras and 'surprise road closures' to make for a better environment; 20mph is becoming the defacto safe speed if you want your wheels tyres and suspension to survive intact! That and a keen eye and the ability to zig zag avoiding the worst crevasses.
I was in my Genesis, which has electronic trickery to scan the road ahead and adjust the dampers for poor roads, and I think it must have given up, as even this comfort biased luxury saloon completely failed to isolate the occupants from the rutted tracks! How those in sports cars with a firm ride manage without wincing from the non existing ashfelt must require a new level of Zen like calmness, which is probably an equally useful skill when confronted with a damaged alloy etc.
On cars with crude ride quality like my everyday DS3, it takes on a whole new reality - the other week I managed to hit a pothole square on, and it actually jarred my wife's back, at least so far the wheels and tyres have surprisingly survived unscathed.
Sorry for another rant, but as they say, writing down ones frustrations can often help!!!
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,696
Since the snow, the roads around me have disintegrated into a mass of holes. Some are monsters. Going out at night on unlit roads (because the council turned all the lights off) is bound to end up in square wheels. I would hate to be a motorcyclist. Won't be long before there are some deaths on the road.
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
I lost a tyre on a huge rut in the braking zone at Junction 15a of the M1 a few weeks ago. I passed that way yesterday and it’s all now been resurfaced.

I agree that writing it down helps. I write a lot of emails that never get sent :)
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,696
I lost a tyre on a huge rut in the braking zone at Junction 15a of the M1 a few weeks ago. I passed that way yesterday and it’s all now been resurfaced.

I agree that writing it down helps. I write a lot of emails that never get sent :)
10ft before the end of the exit. That braking zone? ;)
 

mowlas

Member
Messages
1,728
The roads are disgrace. I see tons of roadworks but the roads getting no better. I really worry about what they are doing to my skyhook shocks. I hear myself saying ouch as I hit one pothole after trying to avoid another.

It’s horrendous.
 

redsonnylee

Member
Messages
1,540
Where I lived in SW London it’s 20mph everywhere, the speed bumps are like mini pyramids so you have to be almost standstill to go over them.
Pot holes are so bad most of the cyclists use the pavement, now I rarely use the GS unless I’m travelling outside of the M25 as I’m so worried about damaging the wheels.
 

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,764
Having just bought a 595 Abarth my fillings can confirm the roads are terrible, also if they can fill a dent in a car door so it's invisible why do the roads look like tarmac was dropped from a helicopter once they've been 'repaired'
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,696
Near us a road was repaired that was sinking into the verge. They left a step at the leading edge and if you hit it now you het an almighty bang.

So it has gone from driving around it so you dont bottom out, to driving around it so you dont end up with square wheels again!
 

Motorsport3

Member
Messages
868
There are a handful of companies that make road works in the UK and not sure whether they make them "at a price" or whatnot but comparing to the continental neighbours they are really poor. I recall spending a couple of days in an RS4 in the continent a few years back and the impression it made me after crossing the channel. The car was bouncing all over by comparison. You get used to it after a while (or give up and buy suv!). Also continental Europe has colder winters so a bit of snow is not an excuse really.