Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface
theguardian.com
Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface
1–10 of 78 posts
Re: Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface
#2That’s good news, but why are the roads in the UK so bad to start with?
Is it correct to say that roads are funded from a tax on fuel sales?
Re: Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface
#3Claims extension of surface lifespan by 30%. Cool if true, though far from an end to potholes.
Re: Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface
#4That’s good news, but why are the roads in the UK so bad to start with? Is it correct to say that roads are funded from a tax on fuel sales?
Nah, it's not a hypothecated tax. It all goes into the general fund. Same for vehicle tax.
In my (mostly uninformed) opinion, a lot of road maintenance was outsourced to the private sector on long (like 20+ years) contracts in the 2000s (2004 for 25 years in my town). Predictable result is predictable.
Re: Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface
#5That’s good news, but why are the roads in the UK so bad to start with? Is it correct to say that roads are funded from a tax on fuel sales?
Probably like most countries. There's budget for new projects, but never enough for maintaining them. And like with all maintenance, not doing it will lead to higher costs down the road.
Re: Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface
#6That’s good news, but why are the roads in the UK so bad to start with? Is it correct to say that roads are funded from a tax on fuel sales?
Bad relative to what? From my perspective UK roads are a pleasure.
Re: Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface
#7Re: Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface
#8That’s good news, but why are the roads in the UK so bad to start with? Is it correct to say that roads are funded from a tax on fuel sales?
Nah, it's not a hypothecated tax. It all goes into the general fund. Same for vehicle tax. In my (mostly uninformed) opinion, a lot of road maintenance was outsourced to the private sector on long (like 20+ years) contracts in the 2000s (2004 for 25 years in my town). Predictable result is predictable.
Council grants from central govt cut ~40% during austerity too.
Pothole fixing and road resurfacing are such an easy choice to cut from budgets because the effect is indirect and isn't immediately seen.
People would notice very quickly if their bins weren't being collected.
Re: Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface
#9That’s good news, but why are the roads in the UK so bad to start with? Is it correct to say that roads are funded from a tax on fuel sales?
Lots of rain and its erosion effects. Nevertheless UK roads are some of the least potholed I have come across.
I believe that potholes are the responsibility of councils - so neither (income) tax nor fuel sales are linked to the funding.
Re: Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface
#10That’s good news, but why are the roads in the UK so bad to start with? Is it correct to say that roads are funded from a tax on fuel sales?
The roads in England are terrible, the roads in the rest of the UK are far better.
I live in England and commute to Wales, you can hear when you cross the border.