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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Scotland worst for pothole damage | Scotland worst for pothole damage |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Scotland and northern England have the bumpiest roads in Britain, according to an insurer. | Scotland and northern England have the bumpiest roads in Britain, according to an insurer. |
| A study of claims for axle or suspension damage found 14% of cars in Ayrshire fell victim to potholes in any given year. | A study of claims for axle or suspension damage found 14% of cars in Ayrshire fell victim to potholes in any given year. |
| Five of the 10 worst-rated areas were in Scotland while four were in northern England. | Five of the 10 worst-rated areas were in Scotland while four were in northern England. |
| Warranty Direct said pothole damage was costing UK drivers £413m a year, or £1.1m each day. | Warranty Direct said pothole damage was costing UK drivers £413m a year, or £1.1m each day. |
| Andy Benny lives in Straiton in Ayrshire. | Andy Benny lives in Straiton in Ayrshire. |
| He told BBC Radio Scotland residents have just had to learn to deal with the potholes - one in particular which is seven inches deep. | He told BBC Radio Scotland residents have just had to learn to deal with the potholes - one in particular which is seven inches deep. |
| He said: "Obviously to steer around it I would have to drive on the opposite side of the road. | He said: "Obviously to steer around it I would have to drive on the opposite side of the road. |
| "Either that or drive up and down the pavement because there's no way on this earth you can miss it. | "Either that or drive up and down the pavement because there's no way on this earth you can miss it. |
| "If there's something coming towards you it's 'hey ho, away we go'. | "If there's something coming towards you it's 'hey ho, away we go'. |
| "Now the people in the village know where the potholes are, because they have been here so long. So what we try to do is avoid them." | "Now the people in the village know where the potholes are, because they have been here so long. So what we try to do is avoid them." |
| Warranty Direct managing director Duncan McLure Fisher said there was a clear "north-south divide" in claim rates. | Warranty Direct managing director Duncan McLure Fisher said there was a clear "north-south divide" in claim rates. |
| SUSPENSION FAILURE INSURANCE CLAIM RATES Ayrshire - 14.05% of all carsNorthumberland - 13.84%Renfrewshire - 13.58%Angus - 13.36%County Durham - 13.07%Aberdeenshire - 11.6%North Yorkshire - 11.21%Warwickshire - 10.56%Lanarkshire - 10.48%Tyne and Wear - 10.23% | SUSPENSION FAILURE INSURANCE CLAIM RATES Ayrshire - 14.05% of all carsNorthumberland - 13.84%Renfrewshire - 13.58%Angus - 13.36%County Durham - 13.07%Aberdeenshire - 11.6%North Yorkshire - 11.21%Warwickshire - 10.56%Lanarkshire - 10.48%Tyne and Wear - 10.23% |
| "Either continuous driving over cracked or uneven road surfaces, or the sudden jolting of a deep pothole, can cause damage to shock absorbers, springs, upper and lower arms and stabiliser bars," he said. | "Either continuous driving over cracked or uneven road surfaces, or the sudden jolting of a deep pothole, can cause damage to shock absorbers, springs, upper and lower arms and stabiliser bars," he said. |
| "This appears to be happening more in Scotland than anywhere else. | "This appears to be happening more in Scotland than anywhere else. |
| "Whether this is due to colder weather causing more northern roads to crack or just poor maintenance, it seems to underline a clear difference in the condition of highways across the country." | "Whether this is due to colder weather causing more northern roads to crack or just poor maintenance, it seems to underline a clear difference in the condition of highways across the country." |
| The lowest claim rate was in Oxfordshire where only 4% of cars suffered similar failures. | The lowest claim rate was in Oxfordshire where only 4% of cars suffered similar failures. |
| The average claim for repairs was £240, but some damage cost £2,710 to put right. | The average claim for repairs was £240, but some damage cost £2,710 to put right. |