Plumber Inspires Confusedcom Pothole Road Sign Campaign
Potholes are a problem for drivers around the world. If you hit a big one, you are likely to damage your vehicle and face a costly repair bill. The car insurance expert, Confused.com, is well aware of the problem and in June 2011 unveiled a new pothole road sign which, if introduced, would warn drivers of pothole perils ahead.
The pothole road sign has been developed for Confused.com, a price comparison service, after it was reported that councils across the UK are likely to take decades to repair all the potholed roads. Confused.com wants drivers to show their support for the new sign athttp://www.confused.com/car-insurance/pothole-damage-petition.
The pothole sign campaign was inspired by a plumber from the county of Kent in England. Ted Relf was fed up with the potholes in a road outside his house and created a homemade sign to warn motorists of their presence. However, his local council then removed the sign.
Mr Relf said: ‘We all moan about potholes and now we have the chance to do something about them. I created my own pothole sign last year because I was concerned for the safety of drivers on my road. I fully support the introduction of an official pothole road sign and urge the nation to sign the petition at Confused.com.’
Harsh winter weather has led to a huge increase in potholes in the roads of the UK and most motorists traveling even a short distance will come across some of them. Confused.com wants the Department for Transport to introduce its pothole sign so that drivers will be alerted to the problem they are approaching.
Mike Hoban, chief marketing officer at Confused.com, said: ‘Although repairing these roads is obviously the long-term solution, something needs to be done now. Currently the UK’s road signs include warnings for wild horses, wild animals, cattle and even toads but potholes aren’t considered worthy enough? A pothole road sign is a vital step in preventing accidents and reducing insurance claims whilst road maintenance continues.’
The new pothole road sign unveiled by Confused.com looks like an official road sign and has been designed by Phil Baines from Central St Martins, University of the Arts, London. Mr Baines said: ‘Warning road signs are there as a safety measure to warn drivers of potential dangers and potholes certainly fall within that category. Given the scale of the current problem, I would welcome a specific pothole sign being added to the Traffic Sign Manual.’
