LOS ANGELES – Rough roads cost drivers in Los Angeles an average of $778 per year in vehicle wear and tear — the highest figure in a nationwide a survey released Mar. 12 by the transportation research group TRIP, according to the Web site www.knbc.com. The national average was $413, while four of the five cities with the bumpiest roads were in California, according to TRIP.
Aside from Los Angeles, where about 65 percent of roads were judged to be in need of repair, San Diego — where the average cost of wear and tear was put at $684 — was the only other Southern California city to make the top five. San Diego, where 53 percent of roads were judged to be in poor condition, ranked No. 5 behind San Jose.
The Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area ranked in the top 20 among cities with populations of 500,000 or more, with an average damage cost of $586. Among cities of 250,000 or less, Palm Springs ranked No. 2 in the state, with added costs averaging $641, behind Santa Rosa; Lancaster ranked No. 5, with added costs put at $345.
Costs associated with potholes and other road problems include direct results such as popped tires, as well as less tangible costs such as accelerated vehicle deterioration, additional maintenance needs, and increased fuel consumption.
In a report to Congress, TRIP cited a U.S. Department of Transportation report that, by 2026, the nation would fall $119 billion short of the cost of maintaining current urban pavement conditions and $270 billion short of making significant repairs.
