Sir Rod claimed that “no-one can be bothered to do it”, and explained why he and “the boys” decided to take matters into their own hands: “The other day, there was an ambulance with a burst tyre. My Ferrari can’t go through here at all”. 

Potholes are a common menace for road users across the country. In 2021, the RAC said they received a total of 10,123 callouts for road-condition-related breakdowns, which is 19% higher than 2020 and a 10% increase on the 9,198 breakdowns in 2019.

Essex County Council however urges against vigilante repairs, saying people are “putting themselves and others at risk” with unofficial DIY jobs. Lee Scott, the council’s cabinet member for highways maintenance and sustainable transport, warned that anyone attempting repairs themselves could become liable for accidents.

Local residents on the other hand are thankful for Sir Rod’s bold action. After 6 months of reporting the pot holes on Sheering Lower Road to the council, nothing had been done to rectify the hazard. 

After the public attention from Sir Rod’s repairs, the council have now pledged to resurface the road in July. There is hope Sir Rod’s actions will draw a much needed focus on the national pothole pandemic, and will hopefully see repairs being prioritised across the country. 

Essex resident Dominic Zarian remarked, “What’s the world coming to when the local rock star has to fix a road?” 

Stay up to speed with the latest in road safety news by checking out the Anglo Liners blog every week. Alternatively, click here for a free quote.

Most concrete roads are found in the North East, Yorkshire, East Anglia and the South East; the project will focus on resurfacing stretches of the A11, A14, A12, A120 and M11, upgrading approximately 200 miles (2%) of the National Road Network. 

Concrete, despite being the second most-used substance in the world, runs into problems on the roads. Made by mixing aggregate (crushed rock and sand), along with cement and water, concrete forms a stiff but strong solid.

This rigidity, however, means road surfaces are prone to cracks, especially if the underlying foundations are not perfectly smooth.

Asphalt is also aggregate-based but uses bitumen, a sticky material derived from crude oil, as a binder. The mixture is heated and pressed into the road’s surface with a steamroller. 

Once cooled, asphalt surfaces are highly durable, providing also good flexibility to accommodate imperfections in the surface beneath – a feature that gives it the edge over concrete. 

National Highways Martin Fellows welcomes a refresh: “‘The A11 is a vital route used by 45,000 drivers every day for work journeys and home deliveries, visits to friends and family, and the movement of goods and services. However, the road surface of this stretch is more than 25 years old and despite serving us well, is coming to the end of its life and needs reconstruction.”

Stay up to speed with the latest in road safety news by checking out the Anglo Liners blog every week. Alternatively, click here for a free quote.