Pothole problem most acute in Ulster counties – AA

Figures from the AA show there has been a marked increase in the number of people in Donegal claiming to have hit a pothole while driving so far this year.
A survey of 7,000 people across the country indicated that it is a major problem right across the country, particularly on secondary roads.
In Ulster 23% of people surveyed claimed to have hit a pothole since the start of 2010 – that is compared to just 6.2% between July and September of last year.
The increase is being attributed to worsening roads conditions as a result of the Christmas cold snap and a reduction in council budgets for road repairs.
The survey also covers the cost of repairing car damage as a result of striking a pothole, 24% of the time it is less than 100 euro, while 23% of the time it is between 100 and 200 euro.
When asked if they reported the pothole to the local authority, 15% of people in Ulster said they did, the lowest percentage nationwide.
However for those who did report a problem, more likely than not they got no reposonse from the council, with just 16% of problems reported fixed.