I was, in fact, working on a real story, but potholes got in the way.
It’s a common enough story. Currently, living in more remote or lower economic areas in Australia means potholes are almost a design choice for Australian roads. I admit that issues like COVID-19 and any number of natural disasters. (there’ll be another one soon) are more serious issues, the matter at the end of the day is that Australians are no longer struggling with decreasing road quality, we’re living with it.
Take into consideration, me.
I live in a smallish beach town on the south coast of New South Wales. Some people say I live in the country, others don’t like the fact that I get both the bush and the beaches, so we will stick with rural. One thing I don’t get, though, is roads free of potholes.
Recently, just outside where I sleep, my neighbour damaged his front left rim trying to drive over our road. To be fair, we live on a side street connected to a side street, but it still is shocking how in our area, such a thing has already happened at least once.
“I was shocked honestly,” said my neighbour.
“I was going the speed limit of a tight carpark. I always thought that any damage done to my car, at my age, would come from a rehashing of teenage driving activities, or at the hands of some other driver. And yet I’ve been added to the long list of people seeking compensation from the council,” he said.
Pressing further, I asked him why he thought the roads had gotten to the said condition that caused his accident.
“Budget, I guess?
“I understand at the end of the day, you can’t do everything perfectly, let alone most things somewhat correct,” he continued, “but why is this matter so hard to grasp?”
ME: “Grasp??”
“How hard is it for the council to grasp the idea of a road not littered with damage!”
ME: “Fair enough.”
My interactions with this man made me come to multiple conclusions:
- Of course, every man and his dog is going to have an opinion on this, but they are rooted in real facts and issues;
- Problems like this factor into all people from nearly all walks of life;
- My neighbour doesn’t enjoy it when I dive deeper into these ramblings.
It is not the other driver on the road you have to worry about anymore, it’s the road itself that dangers you, your car and your lower back muscles.
Another local, Declan Cockburn, spoke out towards dishevelled roads, damaged cars and broken dreams.
“While I haven’t had to check in with a mechanic about my pothole-hitting problems, I’m assuming that it’s not a good thing in the long run”
Declan commutes to and from a central town in our area for work, the only spots on his trip that aren’t littered with road issues are the sections of the Princes highway that he overlaps on his way.
“I’ll be driving on [MAIN ROAD OF HIS TOWN] and it’s like, ‘Ker thunk ker thunk ker thunk ker thunk, pause of normality, then a few more thuds.”
Apparently the highway is another matter.
“For the most part, the highway is great, sometimes a few odd spots on the edge of the pavement but thumbs up from me.”
(Declan gave me two thumbs up while saying this)
“But once you get into more congested town sections of the same road, the problems are more common,” Declan said.
“And also I feel like I’m starting to recognise these potholes and such, from a while ago as well.
“I’ve had minor issues in the past from sh**ty roads and I fear that council and government are only getting lazier with their handling and approach with them.
“I hope for the best and hope that my tyres don’t explode anytime soon.”
This experience in tackling the ever-horrid battle of car vs road, and driver vs council has left me lost and confused. It might be hazy memories but no one I talk to can remember road quality this bad.
Despite this, the government and local council have greatly improved the roads we drive on, upgrading and adding more routes for people like Declan, me, and my neighbour. That’s why I’m so torn on really diving into the snarky comments and puns, because they have to be trying their hardest, right?
Right?
Just remember.
All in all, you’re just another pothole in the road.
Local Council members either did not respond or, chose not to comment.