AA says roads are the worst it’s seen in more than a decade

We’re told we need to make sure our cars are road worthy, but it seems that statement needs to be flipped on its head as it seems the roads aren’t exactly car worthy.

It’s likely you’ll agree that New Zealand’s roads are in a sorry state and are impacting the safety of drivers considering the number of potholes you need to dodge on your way to the shop. You aren’t alone if you think this has become a nationwide issue.

In a recent interview with AM, Automobile Association (AA) road safety spokesperson Dylan Thompson said he hadn’t seen road conditions this bad in his past 12 years of working with the company.

“What I hear most often from people is, ‘The roads have never been this bad’ – or that they’ve just never seen the roads in this sort of state so people are really concerned,” he said in the interview.

It was also mentioned that AA surveys have shown that 68 per cent of its members held concern for the quality of our roads. That figure was from a survey earlier this year and would likely be higher if done now.

One area that has recently been brought to light regarding the matter is Taranaki where a tyre shop has seen more than 50 customers bring bent rims or burst tyres in for repair.

The main cause of potholes is the expansion and contraction of water after it seeps into the road surface through cracks. As cars and trucks pass over the surface, it breaks down.

Action has been taken by the public in the past surrounding the issue with inappropriate (possibly appropriate at this point) objects being spray painted around potholes. 

Waka Kotahi’s 2021 to 2024 National Land Transport Programme states $7.2 billion is being spent on maintaining our roads, footpaths and cycle lanes but is it making a difference? It seems many disagree.