Potholes a pain for learner drivers

They damage cars, drive motorists mad and now potholes are causing havoc for learner drivers around the region.

Many instructors are shaping their lessons around the dangers posed by the craters, while others are changing their routes to avoid them, according to an AA survey.

In Stourbridge one learner fell foul of a pothole when it caused two tyres to blow out in the middle of a lesson.

AA Driving School instructor Michael Brooks, from Dudley, said: "It was frightening for the pupil. He had not long started lessons and it was one his first times on the open road. It was outside the Seven Stars pub and there was a lorry outside delivering beer.

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"The pupil swerved to go around it, went over the pothole and there was a bang. A double tyre blow-out. He regained his composure and has now gone on to pass his test."

Mr Brooks, aged 40, who has been a driving instructor for more than four years, said the worst road in Dudley for potholes was Fairview Road.

"It is an unadopted road so you expect it to be bad but frankly it is just shocking. Driving down there is like an obstacle course and you are always worried about it doing damage to your car," he added.

Halesowen driving instructor Adrian Turner said:"I don't actively avoid potholes but if I know there's a road with potholes and there is a road nearby without any and it is not going to make any difference to what they learn, I will choose the road without potholes."

AA President Edmund King said: "The fabric of our local roads is a major cause for concern with surfaces crumbling and drivers at risk of damage to their vehicles and even themselves.

"Ultimately we all pay more through patching and mending, and then paying out compensation rather than fixing the underlying poor condition of many of our roads."

In Wolverhampton roads around the test centre in Ashland Street, Graiseley, are littered with the annoying crators.

Frank Minton, 62, of Pendeford, who has been a driving instructor in Wolverhampton for 20 years, said: "The test centre will be moved shortly, but the potholes there are quite bad."Graiseley Councillor Elias Mattu said: "A couple of drivers have complained about the potholes to me. There is a problem there that needs to be resolved."

In 2007/2008 Sandwell Council received 214 claims for damage to cars caused by potholes. It admitted liability to 31 per cent of them. The authority spent £31,835 dealing with the claims, £17,630 of which was compensation. The rest was made up of £12,739 in legal fees, while £433 was spent on medical fees.

The problems of pot holes in Cannock is being combated by a slice of a £30 million fund which is being invested on roads throughout Staffordshire.

Cannock councillor John Kraujalis, Cannock South ward member, said there were a number of roads in Cannock which had potholes including Dartmouth Road.

By Heather Large

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