Pot hole is natural traffic calming measure

[Hyun]

Here in Michigan, we're used to hearing plenty of worthless excuses about the crap condition of our roads. However, this one takes the cake. A local council in Essex, England has deemed broken roads a "natural traffic calming measure." If you didn't catch that, "traffic calming" is a euphemism used by politicians when discussing measures to slow the traffic flow through an area. Generally, the "calming" involves taking active measures, such as installing speed bumps, round-abouts or narrowing the road. To our knowledge it's never been (openly) done by neglecting what most people would consider one of the duties of a government -- maintaining basic infrastructure.

According to a councillor in Navestock, repairing roads just encourages people to drive faster. Of course, the counter argument involves safety. Leaving a road marked with craters causes drivers to swerve, as well as damaging suspension components and wheels. It also poses a hazard to motorcyclists and bike riders. Fortunately, the county council appears to be less short-sighted and plans to over-ride the local council and fix the roads.

Source:
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/...tholes-as-a-natural-traffic-calmin/2#comments

 

[speed3driver]

Haha

 

[Captain KRM P5]

sounds like the policy in my area too

 

[squidmotion]

more 'nanny government' policies in action...


time to wake up and realize that we are no longer governed BY the people FOR the people in this country. so they don't want to maintain our roads any longer. which is what WE WANT. i bet they don't cut the road maintenance budget for no longer providing this duty that we PAY FOR WITH OUR TAXES. no... just another lame ass political excuse to do nothing (potholes make traffic SAFER? wow), and a big fat RAISE for everyone!!!!

"according to a councillor in Navestock, repairing roads just encourages people to drive faster"


no DUMBASS, repairing roads enables people to drive SAFER....

 

[oaklandopen]

Must be the same policy in PA

 

[GoFast]

unbelievable. It's amazing how many decisions are based on ignorance and short sightedness.

 

[hectik1]

sounds like the policy in my area too

Isn't that the truth!

 

[BillTheCat]

Let's just hope that this government "plan" doesn't spread as fast as the installation of 5-10 mph "speed humps" in 25 mph residential areas.

 

[Rotus8]

There are a couple of 25mph roads around here with speed bumps (sleeping policemen in the UK vernacular ). They are great for suspension tuning. If I can't go 40 without the car getting all squirrly or crashing into the bump stops, I need go tune my shocks.

 

[Jasnall]

There is a pot hole here in CA on my way to work that gets about 1ft deep. They keep refilling it with the same bad slurry and every month it gets 1ft deep again. It's been like this for over a year now.I'm about to go buy my own cement and fill it myself.

 

[john blutarski]

Must be the same policy in PA

here here