Stephen Cooke, Managing Director of Asphalt Group, one of the UK's largest road surface treatment solution suppliers and installers, is pushing back against claims that electric vehicles (EVs) are to blame for the growing number of potholes on UK roads. Cooke argues that the focus should instead be on building durable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly roads for the future.
Earlier this year, major motoring organizations like The AA, RAC, and FairCharge refuted accusations that the weight of EVs was causing a decline in road quality. Despite some national media attributing the deteriorating state of roads to heavier EVs, the latest Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey by the Asphalt Industry Alliance does not even mention EVs.
According to the ALARM survey, over half of the local road network in England and Wales has less than 15 years of structural life left, with the cost to fix the backlog of repairs reaching a record high of £16.3 billion. In light of this, Cooke emphasizes the need for innovative solutions rather than temporary fixes.
“Let’s be crystal clear, EVs are not the cause of the current state of the UK’s roads. The real reason is a lack of investment in the solutions of the future, and a lack of awareness of what’s available. Traditional ‘sticky plaster’ pothole solutions are simply unacceptable, we need to be thinking bigger picture. Prevent, reinforce and spray treatment is the way forward – not just filler and hope. Asphalt Group has the solutions and wants to talk to government directly to offer a societal win, that saves huge amounts of taxpayers' money,” Cooke stated.
Asphalt Group offers solutions that reinforce asphalt, extending the life of road surfaces by up to eight years and reducing maintenance costs. Cooke advocates for a preventive approach to asset management, focusing on extending the life of roads rather than repeatedly fixing potholes with substandard solutions.
Bill Esterson, Shadow Road and Transport Minister, commented on the issue: “There are 100 times as many potholes as there are craters on the moon. Rather than looking for conspiracy theories and scapegoats, we need a plan to fix the roads. That means replacing the sticking plasters and gimmicks with a sustainable approach and long-term resurfacing and prevention in their place. The UK has a £16.3 billion backlog of repairs, this is simply unacceptable.”
Quentin Willson, Founder of FairCharge, also supported this view, saying: “Blaming EVs for potholes is laughable since they’re only around 3% of all vehicles on UK roads. I’m pleased that road repair experts, Asphalt Group, and the Shadow Minister for Roads, Bill Esterson, have joined FairCharge’s calls for facts and accuracy in the exaggerated media reports linking the weight of EV batteries to road damage. Instead, we should focus on how to create long term solutions for fixing the worst levels of potholes that the asphalt industry has seen for 29 years. This country’s economic productivity depends on safe, well-surfaced roads.”
Asphalt Group's push for innovative road solutions aims to address the root causes of road deterioration and promote long-term sustainability, benefiting both taxpayers and the environment.
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