an increase in punctures?

Legacy_user

Due to the weather this winter and early spring, verges on the sides of roads have become overgrown.Plus councils are not cutting them back to save costs

I know of four friends in the past month who had tyres punctured as they were going down country roads. They pulled in to let a tractor or other farm vehicle going the other way through. Because they cannot see what is underneath the verge growth - bang! Tyre hit by large stone etc. A relative pulled in to let an emergency vehicle through on a main road and suffered from a puncture and bent wheel hub.

It happened to myself 15 months ago.

I wonder if anyone else has noticed an increase in tyre punctures because of this? I have a space saving spare tyre in my boot - 50mp max and 100 miles max. The others have these puncture kits which are not suitable.

I think if the councils don't continue to keep the verges tidy, they will get bills from motorists claiming damage to their wheel like they do with pot holes.

GwylimT

No and I drive country roads on a daily basis, you should never drive on a surface when you don't knot what is underneath.

googler

If you're going fast enough that a 'large stone' punctures your tyre AND bends your wheel rim, you're going too fast.

Slow down, THEN mount the verge.

tykesi

A relative pulled in to let an emergency vehicle through on a main road and suffered from a puncture and bent wheel hub.

What on earth did they hit? Or did you mean wheel rim in which case - what on earth did they hit? They should probably be more careful as to cause that damamge they'd have had to hit something at speed!

AdrianC

As above. Slow down before tucking over. As well as stones, there's often drainage ditches, gulleys, manhole covers - gawd knows what - lurking.

reeac

I live in the country and frequently have to squeeze into the verges to get past big agricultural vehicles but I've never had a puncture as a result. All my punctures [that's about one per 2-3 years] have been caused by screws or nails ...or maybe they've been lurking in the verges.

Iceweasel

There is enough visible crap lying ON the road as it is, without having to guess what is lurking in the long grass.

I try never to mount kerbs or put a wheel on an uncut verge - even at the risk of being seen as inconsiderate to others on narrow country roads.

It unavoidable of course sometimes - but at very low speed indeed.

forgotmyname

Whilst in a lorry a car overtook on a single lane slip road, He had to hug the kerb to avoid contact. I just thought what an idiot. Its only about 100ft long then its a dual carriageway where he could zoom off.

As it opened up he went to the right hand lane then slowed. Im thinking here we go a road rage idiot. But nope he slowed down because he now had 2 flat tyres.

I think there was a ton of debris in the gutter and he punctured both tyres.

I used to get that all the time. Must overtake the lorry no matter what the risks are. But the gutters and hatched areas need care.


EDIT: Are they not sweeping the roads as often these days? I went to Birmingham the other day, Fort spine road. Just past the Fort shopping centre there is a roundabout. The amount of rubbish near the gutters was a shock.

OnanTheBarbarian

forgotmyname wrote: »

I went to Birmingham the other day, The amount of rubbish near the gutters was a shock.

That's just Birmingham isn't it:D

Nodding_Donkey

IME you are more likely to get a puncture driving in the gutter in towns than you are in the countryside. More workman's vans means more screws and nails dropped in the road.

epninety

I had two punctures last month. One in an all-terrain tyre caused by a blackthorn through the sidewall. Do you think the council should cut down all the hedges, or maybe you shouldn't drive off the carriageway?
The second puncture was a large bolt through the centre of a mud tyre - just bad luck.

Total cost over £350, but the only punctures I've had in the last 300k miles or so, so just the luck of the draw.