Why are UK roads so rough?

By spring, the road surface can have holes (called 'potholes') where the surface has broken. Another cause is heavy lorries driving on roads not built for such large vehicles. They gradually damage the surface and can even make the road lumpy. Potholes aren't just bad for your car, they can also be dangerous.



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And our roads are getting worse every year. According to Inrix, drivers spend more time stuck on gridlocked streets in London than in any other city on the planet. In 2022, our road hogs lost a whopping 156 hours each to congestion. (Up from 148 hours in 2021, and 5 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels.)

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According to a 2022 study conducted by the Bill Plant Driving School, the borough of Islington has more potholes in its roads than any other part of the UK. The survey discovered 3,804 potholes in 148 miles of road: a staggering 25.74 potholes per mile, 22 more than the national average.

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Magic Roundabout, Swindon The Magic Roundabout is often listed as one of the most intimidating junctions in the UK. It's best shown in map form so you can see the complexity of its one-way systems feeding five roundabouts.

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