Latest news with #roadconditions
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Calls for change as deteriorating roads expose big 'risk' to Aussies
Aussie road users are growing increasingly fed up with the deteriorating state of the tarmac across the country. New data reveals reports of sub-par roads and bike paths have tripled in the past three years, with "no signs of slowing down". While the number of reports correlates with an uptick in Aussies opting to travel on their bikes, the state of roads poses an "increasing risk" to the wellbeing of cyclists, according to Danny Gorog, CEO of council reporting app Snap Send Solve. Cycling advocacy group Bicycle NSW's CEO Peter McLean has called on authorities to pay attention to the complaints, telling Yahoo it's critically important "all three tiers" of government acknowledge that there are more cyclists than ever on the roads. "We need to evolve and react to managing our assets and infrastructure more appropriately," he said. "People want better, more consistent infrastructure, and where they're not seeing it, they are reporting it," he said. Since 2020, cycling has seen a "massive uptake", according to McLean. Now, over five million Australians are riding a bike every week, particularly with the advent of e-bikes. With that, has come a rise in complaints on the state of infrastructure meant to serve cyclists. Last year, there was a "record-breaking" 5,235 reports of issues in bike paths including crumbling tarmac, regular debris in the way, as well as overgrown nature strips across the country, according to Snap Send Solve data. 2025 looks like it's going to be even worse with 3,153 reports already recorded between January and May this year. "This rapid growth strongly suggests that conditions on the ground are deteriorating year over year," Gorog told Yahoo News Australia. While the Snap Send Solve app itself is increasing in popularity among responsible citizens, he believes the rise in complaints is "unlikely" to be explained simply by reporting behaviour alone. "It signals worsening infrastructure conditions, poor repairs, ageing bike lanes, and potentially inadequate maintenance cycles," he said. He warns the current pace of deterioration could "undermine broader mobility goals and pose increasing risks to cyclists." Gorog hopes the insights will guide smarter investments and ongoing upgrades from authorities. 🚨 Drivers warned major road rule change with $961 fines 'just weeks' away 📸 Cyclist's heated exchange with driver over 'deliberate' roadside act 👮 'Unbelievable' moment cyclist swerves in front of driver draws police response It's not just the quality of the roads putting cyclists at risk, but also fellow road users like car drivers. A disproportionate amount of crashes involve cyclists on Australian roads despite them being a small percentage of overall road users. Last year, cyclist deaths jumped from 34 in 2023 to 38 in 2024, an 11.8% increase, with motor vehicles involved in the majority of crashes. Footage shared earlier this year shows a scary near-miss between a driver and a cyclist in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick. Cyclist Rory Meister told Yahoo News he thought it was "absurd" the driver didn't see him despite having flashing lights on his bike. He said incidents with drivers are alarmingly frequent. McLean previously told Yahoo education and awareness are the first port of call for improving safety for cyclists. "Fundamentally, we need better awareness at an early stage of when people are getting their licenses," he said. "There's lots of great drivers out there and we just need to equalise everyone on the road." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Britain's roads are becoming unusable
The traffic over this Bank Holiday weekend will be as bad as ever. The potholes will puncture tens of thousands of tyres, traffic will back up along the A-Roads towards the coast, and there will be the traditional lane closures on all the major motorways. Driving around the UK has always been challenging, to put it mildly, and anyone who tries to get any distance across the country has to be ready to navigate a whole series of obstacles. The trouble is that it is getting much worse. From delivery drivers and cyclists to fines, Britain's roads are becoming unusable – and that needs to be fixed before the whole country grinds to a complete halt. It would be easy to dismiss the residents of the leafy West London district of Fulham who are objecting to a new 24-hour McDonalds as typically prosperous, selfish Lib Dem-voting Nimbys. If it was an organic, artisan bakery – although obviously not hyper-capitalist Gail's – they would probably be delighted. And yet, this time they may have a point. A 24-hour fast food restaurant quickly becomes a magnet for delivery bikers who clog up the roads, wobbling haphazardly along streets they hardly know, staring into their phones as they try and find their way to a destination they have clearly never heard of. It turns quiet residential streets into death traps for anyone trying to drive to collect their kids from school, or pop out to the supermarket. With an estimated 240,000 food and delivery drivers in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics, and with the real number likely to be far higher, given that they are not exactly famous for registering with the tax authorities, the guys with the big backpacks now effectively own many streets. They have squeezed out all the other vehicles trying to get around. That is just one way that the roads have become impossible. There are learner drivers who have little clue what they are actually doing, and are now a danger not just to themselves, but to anyone else driving a car along the same road. Given that it is now virtually impossible to book a driving test – with average wait times of at least 22 weeks – many of them never actually become proper, experienced drivers. They are stuck in 'learner hell' forever. And then of course there are the cyclists, who seem to have decided collectively that traffic signals and bus lanes only apply to four-wheeled modes of transport. The days when you could drive confidently through a green light are long gone; a cyclist may well be whizzing in the opposite direction. Sure, they may well be committing numerous offences as they brazenly ignore traffic rules. But in city centres where the police no longer bother to stop shoplifting, we can hardly expect them to punish cyclists. The law is routinely ignored. Perhaps worst of all, many councils have worked out that the only way they can possibly pay for all the asylum seekers they are obliged to house is to squeeze as much money as possible out of motorists. Junction 17 to 18 of the M25 collects more than £500,000 a year in fines, while the A1 in Great Ponton makes more than £600,000. Box junctions have turned into cash registers, and parking spaces are gold mines to be ruthlessly exploited. What started as a sensible way of controlling bad driving, and rationing scarce parking space, has turned into a tax. It goes up every year, and the motorist has no option but to pay up, especially as fines double if you do not settle them immediately. In reality, this is crazy. Driving is essential to the nation's life, and to its economy. People need to get out and about to see friends, visit their families, and to go to a restaurant or shopping. Businesses need to make deliveries, to stock warehouses, and ship raw materials into their factories. There is almost no form of economic or social activity that does not involve a car or a van at some point in the process. The UK is fast turning into a country where it is no longer possible to get from A to B – and that needs to be fixed before the nation grinds to a complete halt.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
1 killed, 1 injured in weather-related crash on U.S. 6
SALT LAKE CITY () — One person was killed and another was injured after a weather-related crash on U.S. 6 on Sunday. According to the , the crash occurred around 2 p.m. on May 18, near mile marker 259 on U.S. 6. The driver of a westbound grey Tesla reportedly lost control of their vehicle, after which their car spun into the eastbound lanes. While in the eastbound lanes, the Tesla reportedly collided with a 'pop-up camper trailer' that was being towed by an eastbound Ram truck. The Tesla turned sideways, after which the driver's side of the car was hit by a white GMC Yukon that was driving east. Officials said the Tesla driver was killed in the crash. The driver of the white Yukon received minor injuries and the driver of the Ram was reportedly uninjured during the incident. At the time of the crash, UHP said 'a heavy rainstorm was affecting the area,' which had caused the roads to be slick. There were no additional updates on the condition of the injured driver. There is no further information at this time. Republicans advance Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' in unusual late-night vote 1 killed, 1 injured in weather-related crash on U.S. 6 Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer: What is it? Search continues for escaped inmates following New Orleans jailbreak Utah restaurant ranked among the world's best vegan, vegetarian eateries: Tripadvisor Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
18-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Flurries expected on high-elevation B.C. highways Saturday overnight
Drivers planning to travel through mountain passes in B.C.'s Interior this long weekend are being warned to prepare for flurries and challenging road conditions. Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Saturday afternoon, advising of snowfall at higher elevations along several key highway routes. This includes the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt, and Merritt to Kamloops; Highway 3 between Paulson Summit and Kootenay Pass; the Okanagan Connector between Merritt and Kelowna; and Highway 3 near Princeton through the Allison Pass. "An upper disturbance passing through the B.C. interior is expected to drop the snow levels overnight tonight to around 1,500 metres," the special weather statement reads. Snowfall amounts are expected to be minimal, between a trace up to five centimetres, and rising temperatures on Sunday are expected to melt much of it. The federal forecaster is urging drivers to use caution and be prepared for sudden changes in road and weather conditions at higher elevations. "Slow down and maintain a safe following distance," the agency said in its alert. "Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions." Environment Canada encourages travellers to check road conditions through DriveBC, and monitor forecasts and alerts. The weather statement is in effect until Sunday morning.
Washington Post
09-05-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
Months after Helene, it's still hard to drive these North Carolina roads
BURNSVILLE, North Carolina — The day of Bobby Hensley's stroke in February, Green Leaf Road was so muddy and pockmarked that an ambulance couldn't make it to the 82-year-old Air Force veteran's house. The steep dirt road in Yancey County, North Carolina, has always been in rough condition. But since the tropical storm remnants of Hurricane Helene blew through seven months ago, the privately owned road has been disfigured by deep craters, making it often impassable for many vehicles.
