Fed Up Of "surface Dressing"?

[SeanW]

Just found this link to an e-petition (via Fiat Forum)...

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/67408

It raises a valid point.

Surface dressing is incredibly inadequate. A few of the reasons I've come across:

1. It doesn't last very long (one road in Cleethorpes had to be redone - the surface dressing had been ripped up in 4 days)

2. It causes damage to bodywork (tar and chipped paint)

3. The loose chippings can get stuck in the tread reducing tyre efficiency

4. The loose chippings get pinged at pedestrians (even at 20mph)

5. The loose surface can cause issuses for our 2-wheeled cousins (both powered and pedalled)

6. The chippings get traipsed into homes, potentially ruining carpets

7. The grazes caused when falling are difficult to clean because the tar sticks like mad (thinking young kids primarily)

8. The road surface can become rutted

If anyone has any more, please feel free to add them

I seriously doubt that it'll get stopped - but it's worth a shot!!

[higgsy]

You aught to see Heath Street in Birmingham, main artery into the city and they stone chipped it! It's now a right state. It's ok for quiet back roads that don't handle any traffic, but if its done on a road with moderate to heavy traffic its just not suitable.

[Philf1]

It's just cheap and I hate it. Why do I pay my RFL time to get the roads repaired correctly

[SandyCat]

Erm................this is the website requests and issues sections................ :D

[MattDRX]

Also it raises the height of the road itself blocking off drainage etc, did it down my road and the surface spilled over onto the pavement a few houses down.

It's also dangerous to brake on sharply if a child runs out in the road etc, noise pollution is increased, trucks make groves in it within 10 seconds which again when it rains they fill with water and cause a hazard to motorists, there are no lines painted on them for weeks which in the event of an accident makes it harder to dispute fault if applicable, It's harder for me to speed on, very dangerous for cyclists not just Mbikers can't really take a road cycle onto gravel now, it's more difficult for Old dears with Zimmerframes / wheelchairs to cross, dogs crossing the roads may hurt their feet.

Also what I fail to understand, partly made from Bitumen, is subject to COSHH regulations and only to be handled with appropriate PPE...so members of the public can freely be forced to make contact with it and not be told of it's potential health issues? the HSE have forgotten a few things when it suits them.

[FOCA]

Also it raises the height of the road itself blocking off drainage etc, did it down my road and the surface spilled over onto the pavement a few houses down.

It's also dangerous to brake on sharply if a child runs out in the road etc, noise pollution is increased, trucks make groves in it within 10 seconds which again when it rains they fill with water and cause a hazard to motorists, there are no lines painted on them for weeks which in the event of an accident makes it harder to dispute fault if applicable, It's harder for me to speed on, very dangerous for cyclists not just Mbikers can't really take a road cycle onto gravel now, it's more difficult for Old dears with Zimmerframes / wheelchairs to cross, dogs crossing the roads may hurt their feet.

Also what I fail to understand, partly made from Bitumen, is subject to COSHH regulations and only to be handled with appropriate PPE...so members of the public can freely be forced to make contact with it and not be told of it's potential health issues? the HSE have forgotten a few things when it suits them.

Shhh - it will be our little secret - i don't think anyone else noticed

[Stoney871]

:d

[Swiftfocus69]

Worked in the industry for over 20yrs and yes it can be a pain ,but it does seal the road surface and prolongs the life of the road it also increases the surface texture so aids braking .

As for COSHH the Bitumen is held in supension in water so is harmless, Unlike half the chemicals in the home under the kitchen sink .

Who puts on gloves and a face mask and visor when pouring bleach down the sink or the drain ??,How many use spray paints without respirators ??

Finally you always will always find one IxxxT who will spin his wheels on a freshly laid surface .

[MattDRX]

Household chemicals have labels on for the operator to make an informed decision on how to use safely, as for Bitumen being in suspension yes but this isn't strictly the case for most dressings as it's dry and granulated, hence how if you pick up some of the stones you'll see how much it sticks to your skin and the residue is quite hard to clean off, health effects are negligible granted but look how OTT they go over some of the most ridiculous stuff.

More with the braking, I was more referring to parts when you're driving at night time and then you hit a fresh patch, causes you to go WTF out very loud, when it's stable and set the grip it pretty immense tbh.

[Swiftfocus69]

True MattDRX

If used correctly and put down in the correct conditions then it is a good product. But when you get some contractor who`s paid by the square metre he will use as much product as he can ,therefore you will get the bleed through of the bitumen to the surface .

Again poor contractors not displaying the correct signage is not the fault of surface dressing .

Ideally we all would like the roads to be freshly repaired at hte slight surface crack but that is never going to happen .

Oh well home time

[bry0586]

Shhh - it will be our little secret - i don't think anyone else noticed

i did lol

[Philf1]

"I'm sorry m'lud I never noticed his speeding comment."

Just practicing for my court appearance if you call me as a witness

Sent from my iPhone using Ford OC mobile app

[SeanW]

Erm................this is the website requests and issues sections................ :D

D'Oh! I thought I'd stuck it in o e of the general forums lol

Ahwell, if a Mod can be bothered, I'm sure they'll move it lol

True MattDRX

If used correctly and put down in the correct conditions then it is a good product. But when you get some contractor who`s paid by the square metre he will use as much product as he can ,therefore you will get the bleed through of the bitumen to the surface .

Again poor contractors not displaying the correct signage is not the fault of surface dressing .

Ideally we all would like the roads to be freshly repaired at hte slight surface crack but that is never going to happen .

Oh well home time

And therein lies the problem...it isn't in applied in the best conditions. The guys that do it are more intent on dumping it and being home for tea!

I'm not too fussed about the slightest crack - but when a pothole is big enough to build a bridge over, something should be done! Preferably something that doesn't result in my car getting shot blasted by every passing vehicle.

I actually took to parking at my Sisters (just around the corner) in her little carpark/access road. Only for a week or so until they sent the sweepers round.

[Stoney871]

Moved already ;)

[stef123]

Moved already ;)

Alex must have done it earlier? I went I move it a few mins ago and realised it was already done so I closed the report.

[Stoney871]

I did it about 4 hours ago.

:d

On my phone so harder to access reports.

[stef123]

I did it about 4 hours ago.

:d

On my phone so harder to access reports.

Ah ok :)

[Ianb]

All boils down to cost. Chances are surface dressing, if done properly won't be ripped up in 4 days, so taking that into context along with the speed it takes to do it is the reasons it is chosen often.

Redoing a road is by no means a quick task, depending on the time of the year (if it's low season they're not going to authorise big work because it doesn't disrupt enough people), so the quick alternative is the surface dressing, which will actually protect the more 'delicate' layers beneath which ideally you don't want to have to start redoing!

The other thing to consider is what the future plans for the road are. Say for instance the roads getting a bit pants, so someone comes along and says "we need to sort this NOW"... you get a bunch of guys ready to rip up the road and redo the whole lot when another chap from say the waterboard/elec company etc comes along and says "well actually, in 6 months from now, we'll be coming along with a letter telling you guys to dig a dirty great channel down your new road so we can fix xyz and lay xyz".... in which case Bob the man in charge of getting the roads sorted is going to say "well it's pointless doing the whole road, causing days of disruption if that numpty over there wants us to dig a channel and cause MORE disruption in 6 months time"... so again... Surface dressing is the answer..

Of course, stone chips, tar stuck on cars and the rest is a pain in the bum for everyone. But you'd find bills would increase a heck of a lot more if 'resurfacing' was the ONLY thing to do every time! All hail surface dressing!