| Tens of thousands of private motorists and | | | | time. |
| commercial vehicle owners are now claiming costs | | | | Don't forget that potholes also cause problems |
| for damage from local councils that have not | | | | for the people that work in small businesses. |
| repaired dangerous potholes. Main highways are a | | | | Apparently government figures say there are 1.5 |
| bumpy ride at the best of times, but small | | | | million motorcycle riders in the U.K. And, in 2008, |
| businesses based on council-owned industrial | | | | 52% of motorcycle journeys were commutes. |
| estates or on back roads suffer even more | | | | Each pothole represents a danger to those |
| because of shoddy maintenance of secondary | | | | employees, potentially meaning injury and time off |
| roads. | | | | work or, in the worst-case scenario, being in a |
| So whether it's cycle, motorbike or van couriers | | | | fatal accident. |
| picking up or delivering to your business, or | | | | As road users we give £47 billion to the |
| customers driving up to your door, you can help | | | | Exchequer each year, so we should expect a |
| them by giving them the phone number of your | | | | smooth ride. But this is what we actually get – |
| local council's highways department. Or refer them | | | | we took some footage of the A1, the main |
| to Motorcycle News's Fix our Roads! campaign. | | | | artery between London and Edinburgh. This patch |
| Press reports show most councils pay up to | | | | is in London: have a look at its condition and try |
| £450 without queries on presentation of the bill | | | | not to get distracted by the musical |
| for repairs – make sure you photograph the | | | | accompaniment. |
| pothole, its location and the damage caused at the | | | | |