Our say

Think it gives you a jolt going over a pothole at 40mph? Well, try hitting one at 190mph!

15th February 2010

That’s what faced the 40-strong field of NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers yesterday at the legendary Daytona 500 race in Florida.

Just after halfway through the race, a crack opened up in the asphalt which caused the red flag to come out, and NASCAR officials spent 1h41m attempting to repair the track surface.

The race restarted but, in a situation that will be very familiar to British motorists, the patched repair didn’t last long, and a further 46-minute red flag period was required while officials tried a different asphalt solution.

Thankfully, there were no serious accidents or injuries caused by the crater between Turns 1 and 2, and the race was completed, with Jamie McMurray winning.

Proof, again, that no-one is safe from the scourge of potholes – even The Great American Race succumbed. And further proof that the ‘patch and mend’ solution doesn’t work.

Wouldn’t it be good, though, for every UK council to have a team ready to scuttle on to the road the very second a pothole appears like the NASCAR crew? We can dream....