Personal injury and vehicle damage that occurred on the roads of Northern Ireland over the last year has led to an annual increase in personal liability claims of 15 per cent.  This was despite the fact that nearly a third of the resources spent by Northern Ireland’s road maintenance department were spent on repairing potholes.

According to The Belfast Telegraph, Transport Minister Conor Murphy’s efforts to lobby for a much greater road maintenance budget are being supported by a coalition of campaigning groups.  Professor Martin Smith has argued that too many roads in the province are simply ‘not fit for purpose.’

Personal compensation claims relating to vehicle damage and personal injury claims have both increased substantially.  Although vehicle damage is the predominant issue, the personal injury claims are not insignificant.  The Roads Services department arguably requires sufficient money to make investments in high quality roads over considerable periods of time, instead of focusing on ‘make do and mend.’  The authorities could also invest more resources in public transport to relieve some of the pressure on the roads.  Otherwise, the compensation claims will continue to mount.

Statistical evidence indicates that the state of the roads in Northern Ireland is worse than the condition of the roads in England.  However, there is little space for complacency anywhere in the UK.  If roads are not maintained to excellent standards, the example of Northern Ireland highlights the potential economic consequences.  ‘Joined up’ transport solutions are needed to meet the kind of challenges faced by contemporary transport systems.