Citroën has been an active voice in trying to get government and local highways authorities (LHA) to act on the sorry state of Britain’s pothole plagued roads. It sees the impact of the problem first hand: not only through personal experience, but in the damage to people’s cars.
For more than a century, Citroën hasn’t been afraid to think outside the box for solutions to everyday problems. It has led to our Advanced Comfort® technology that helps insulate drivers from the worst of poor road surfaces. But that is no longer enough.
Citroën’s Better Roads Manifesto sets out six key points for Local Highways Authorities and councils to address, to improve the quality of the British Local Road Network (LRN).
Reforming how local highways authorities inspect roads, using AI to cut costs, improve data quality and speed up targeted repairs
Using AI-based apps such as STAN (or its commercial derivative SmartVision) to monitor the road from the operator’s smartphone would have multiple benefits, including a guarantee for a much more accurate report on the road’s condition and consistent data reporting.
Giving local highways authorities greater powers to ensure utility companies properly repair the trenches they dig
Road infrastructure alterations, frequently conducted by utility firms, have a significant impact on road quality. To encourage more rigorous repairs, LHAs need to be able to fine utilities heavily if repairs fail, particularly if this happens more than once. This would provide an incentive for the utilities to act and maintain roads.
Introducing a five-year plan for road funding by government – this would save local highways authorities money in the long term
The lack of funding certainty and a fragmented approach is a significant driver of poor-quality roads. A five-year funding model gives each LHA financial certainty that would result in a range of benefits, and would enable more efficient planning, allowing LHAs to schedule work more effectively.
Creating a national standard for road repairs, ensuring consistency of road quality and enabling local authorities to be measured accurately against one another
Recreating a national standard would prevent individual LHAs from defining what constitutes a pothole differently and enable a much more rigorous repair schedule to be implemented around the country.
Using volunteers to increase manpower at no extra cost
Britain has a vast pool of people who are willing to give up their time to help make the community a better place. But there is no formal scheme to use volunteers to help LHAs monitor and maintain our roads. Volunteers could inspect urban roads, geolocating and reporting defects in the carriageway.
Developing a road cleaning strategy to remove dangerous surface debris
When a pothole opens up, what’s known as scree (gravel down to fine dust) is spread across the road. One simple way to address this problem is for LHAs to identify where scree builds up at junctions, roundabouts and bends. They could then develop a road sweeping strategy for these areas.
In October 2016, the Well Managed Highway Infrastructure code of practice was introduced. Although there are still national guidelines in place for what constitutes a pothole – 40 mm deep and 250 mm across – many LHAs have adopted the Well Managed Highway Infrastructure’s so-called ‘risk-based approach’.
This allows each LHA to come up with its own definition of what constitutes a road surface defect.
Citroën’s research found that while many LHAs agree a defect becomes a problem when a hole is 20 mm deep, for most its 40 mm, but some don’t classify a defect as troublesome until its 80 mm deep.
When it comes to width, there’s a greater disparity: some LHAs define a pothole as 75 mm, 250 mm or even 300mm wide. A quarter (27%) of LHAs who responded to Citroën’s FOI use the ‘risk-based approach’ set in the Well Managed Highway Infrastructure code of practice.
For over 100 years, Citroën has been creating a unique in-car experience centred on comfort. Every model combines distinctive design with exceptional wellbeing – drawing on a century of innovation and expertise. This unmistakable Citroën comfort is built around four key principles that define every journey:
- The cocoon effect, created through soft-touch materials and refined acoustic comfort
- Practical and versatile interior space, designed to encourage comfort and conviviality in every situation
- Peace of mind, delivered through a calm, welcoming atmosphere
- Effortless fluidity, enabled by intuitive and useful technologies
At the heart of this philosophy is Citroën Advanced Comfort®, a unique approach that combines exceptional ride quality with outstanding seating comfort.
Advanced Comfort® suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions absorbs and filters both major and minor road imperfections, creating the renowned Citroën "Flying Carpet Effect" for a smoother, more serene drive.
Citroën Advanced Comfort® Seats combine a supportive structure and design with an additional 15mm of high-density foam to reduce fatigue and maximise comfort on every journey.
Together, these innovations work in harmony to deliver an unrivalled sense of comfort, ensuring every passenger enjoys a relaxed, smooth and enjoyable experience, wherever the road leads.