Asphalt surfaces partially define driving experiences. In Britain, they have fallen into disrepair
As a car fanatic, I have what could be considered as an idiosyncratic appreciation for the road networks across the world, for the rather obvious reason that without them, driving cars would be much more challenging, and no way near as pleasurable. The liberty the car has given humanity can be quantified in numerous ways, but the road is often an overlooked aspect of that equation.
The car and road make up a sort of symbiotic relationship like no other. Both coexist for the other to serve a mutual purpose. Moreover, I tend to pay closer attention to the road surface that I drive on, for the perhaps less obvious reason that the asphalt surface that’s driven on determines the driving experience we have, for better or worse, regardless of the type of car at our disposal.
I have been fortunate enough to have driven on urban and rural roads in different countries, and it has been intriguing to discern the differences between them, and why they can be so contrasting. The best roads I’ve driven on have been in Germany. Overall, the asphalt has been predominantly smooth and appears to have been laid on a solid base underneath. One reason why is that the German road network is inspected regularly, but the rationale goes deeper than that.
An essential consideration in the construction of a road is in the quality of preparation, which is pivotal to the outcome. But when you look harder at why Germany has such an accomplished road network, there are aspects that are intriguing. There are design disparities between standard, cheaper formulas and more premium, technical compounds. Due to the derestricted speed limits on autobahns, the road surface is made from several layers of concrete that reinforce its structure to accommodate higher velocities.
"The neglected condition of asphalt surfaces is an increasing occurrence, it's often like driving on a ploughed field"
As well as that, the fact that Carl Benz invented the combustion engine car, called the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, is indicative of the close connection the country has with the car in the first place. It led to the establishment of a car industry that became the economic engine of the country, which remains the case to this day. The recognition of that is reflected in the German political arena, with administrations close associations – sometimes notoriously so – in protecting and promoting the interests of the car industry notably documented.
It shows that the sector is one of the nation’s most respected assets, and forms the foundation of so much in Germany. It’s on the international stage that you understand the significance of the car for the country. The image it projects has cultivated a reputation to uphold. It’s perceptible that a duty-bound obligation to endorse the car industry shapes the stance the country takes towards it.
It’s logical that this symbol of national identity is extended to the road network itself. In other words, it’s a political decision to maintain German roads to a high standard. Now that’s not to say that every asphalt surface on German roads is perfect, I’m sure there are examples that are far from satisfactory. But, from the sample of German roads that I’ve driven on, it would suggest that the majority are maintained and upgraded.
If we turn our attention to the asphalt surfaces on the road network in Britain on the other hand, and there is a stark difference. The neglected condition of asphalt surfaces is an increasing occurrence, it's often like driving on a ploughed field. With this situation so widespread, so pervasive across the country, it compromises the experience of driving on public roads. In some instances, the deterioration is bad enough that you end up navigating your own path through the lumps and bumps in the road ahead.
It can often turn into an uncomfortable drive. A good illustration of this point is a road in the village of Barningham where I live – the pictures of it feature in this piece. The road itself has houses either side and it leads to another neighbouring village called Hepworth a few miles away. As I turn onto the road, most often driving my Vauxhall Corsa SXI, the smooth surface is so unbearable that you can’t help but wonder how it could have been made so badly. I’m no Road Construction Operative, but it’s evident that it has several design flaws.
The first is the position of five drain outlets positioned in the drive line of the road. I still can’t fathom the rational for that decision, and it leaves me perplexed every time I have to drive over them. Not only does it not collect all the water had it been located at the edge of the road, but it means that the drain cover is constantly subject to the stresses and strains of cars driving over them. This increases the wear and tear they are subjected to and has meant they have undermined the surrounding asphalt surface, making the road more intolerable to drive on.
The second design flaw is the surrounding road surface of these drain outlets. They are like craters on the moon. My Corsa bashes over them which in the process results in a concerning crashing noise. It makes you apprehensive about driving over them for the reason that you puncture a tyre from the impact or even damage componentry on your car. Aware of this potential consequence, I take to driving around them in the middle of the road when there isn’t oncoming traffic.
However, when cars are approaching in the other direction, I am forced to subject myself and the Corsa to enduring the rough treatment. It is an unpleasant experience and one which shouldn’t exist in Britain. The third design flaw is the uneven surface in the first place. How the road has been made to be so unlevel in places is quite astonishing. You get the impression that the operatives who constructed the road couldn’t have done a worse job if they tried.
"The road network in Britain is an appropriate metaphor for the state of the country, one where standards are in perpetual decline"
And that’s what’s most exasperating of all, the lack of consideration in the road’s construction. It’s the carelessness that gets to you, the thoughtlessness which wears you down. And if you drive that road on a regular basis, it does become a chore to endure. The quality of this specific section of Hepworth Road I mention is not just an exception. It’s a symptom of a broader problem across Britain’s road network that has become the norm.
Now I’m not saying that every road in Britain is substandard and second rate. Far from it, a good proportion of them are well made and good quality roads with smooth asphalt. But from my perspective, there appears to be an even bigger quantity that have fallen into disrepair. And it’s a problem that doesn’t discriminate between the three main types of roads in Britain either, A-roads, B and C-roads, as well as motorways are all vulnerable and are victims.
The upkeep of some parts of motorways I have driven have been so bad that considerable cracks have been engraved in the asphalt surface and has stretched across two lanes. Over time, the condition of the roads will just worsen the longer it is left unattended from weather fracturing the tarmac surface further, and creating potholes in the process. This is a problem on B-roads, and driving over one is effectively like driving over a landmine for your car.
Just why is the road network in Britain disintegrating, and in places, dilapidated? Looking more closely at the bigger picture, and the answers become clear. The Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey is conducted by the Asphalt Industry Alliance. Every year they carry out an independent evaluation of local highway authority departments, disclosing the current condition of road networks across Britain.
The latest report published in March 2022 makes for concerning reading. Among the details include the link between underinvestment and structural decline of the road network. It highlights the fundamental flaws in the short-term approach the government is taking to maintenance, and emphasises the need for a substantial long-term scheme with significant investment. And it goes on to warn that the longer without the necessary funding to deal with the backlog of repairs, the bigger the cost is going to be in the future.
Furthermore, it goes on to say that more than £2billion is needed every year over the next decade to raise standards of roads to a point where they can be maintained cost-effectively going forward. Ultimately though, of course, the decision to let the road network in Britain crumble is a political one. The responsibility for this resides with the Conservative party, who have been in office for twelve years, and have enacted policies that have brought Britain to it knees in the process.
Ideological public sector austerity cuts have slashed budgets, and have crippled the ability for services to function, like Highways England and local councils who are tasked with maintaining and upgrading roads. The deficit in resource will mean an inevitable and continued regression in standards of the road network. With the Tories at the helm, that’s unlikely to change soon.
The road network has been undermined, making them unsafe and unsuitable. Nevertheless, from my perspective, there is poetry in the mediocrity. The road network in Britain is an appropriate metaphor for the state of the country, one where standards are in perpetual decline. The sad and tragic thing about that is that it’s all utterly unnecessary. As a car fanatic, the state of the road network is just another reason to remove the Tories from power.
Oh and you know Hepworth Road that features prominently in this piece, I have been reliably informed that it has been inspected by civil engineers, but it was deemed adequate. As a regular commuter along this particular stretch of road, I can categorically confirm that it isn't. My only conclusion can be that a lack of resource prevented them from doing anything about it.
Please don’t shoot the messenger, I just hold up mirrors. Welcome to Conservative Britain.
Photos: Callum Alexander
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