14-07-12, 10:36 PM
It's all done in the name of safety. How often have we heard that? I think it would be very interesting for a lawyer who is game enough to take a test case against the government that hinges on the following:
Substandard road surfaces cause accidents. Potholes, raised manhole covers, and the degraded surfacing of highways are potentially lethal to motorcyclists, while also impairing the steering and braking performance of other road vehicles who encounter such conditions. As the government is ultimately responsible for the roads they are failing in their duty of care to road users, and must be held to account for the accidents and costly damage caused to vehicles each year by those substandard roads.
If it's safety they want let them first make the roads themselves safe, reimburse road users for damage to their vehicles caused by potholes, and pay compensation to the families of those who lose their life or limb as a result of those substandard road surfaces. We've paid the taxes, now we should demand the fix before they start levying new fines plucked out of thin air.
If they want to justify this latest revenue generating ploy with 'road safety' statistics, then let them also be obliged to compile statistics showing the number and cost of accidents caused by the condition of roads themselves. For each one the government could then be 'fined' and the money pooled and used to offset the cost of repairs to damaged vehicles.
And before anyone says they already do any of this - No they don't. I've just been through it, and the local council told outright lies, they even stonewalled in the face of photographic evidence. Note to government;- It was your buddy's the bankers plus Tony Blair's endless war that emptied the coffers - NOT US!
PS. My MP doesn't reply at all. He's not worth a wank.