Extra Vehicle Operating Costs: What Motorists Pay to Drive on Roads in Need of Repair

008118572001PDFTech ReportSurface course (Pavements)RoadsHighway maintenanceRepairingOperating costsDriversMotor vehiclesCostsDeterioration by environmental actionStatesPaving materialsPavement performanceWinterEconomicsFinanceHighwaysPavementsSocietyVehicles and EquipmentI10: Economics and AdministrationI23: Properties of Road SurfacesI96: Vehicle Operating CostsUnited StatesRoad Information ProgramRoad Information ProgramUS Transportation CollectionWith the advent of spring, states are beginning to assess the damage to their roads caused by winter. Potholes and other forms of pavement damage have a price tag that must be paid each spring. In addition to the funds states allocate to pay for road repair each year, driving on roads in need of repair or improvement costs motorists billions in additional vehicle operating costs. This report examines these additional costs on a national and state-by-state basis, the variables involved in the calculation of these costs, pavement condition trends, and new techniques and materials used in road repair. The major findings are as follows: 1. Driving on roads in need of repair or improvement costs American motorists an average of $222 annually each in extra vehicle operating costs -- $41.5 billion total. 2. The timing and quality of the maintenance and rehabilitation of road surfaces is critical, affecting the cost-effectiveness of the repairs and, ultimately, the overall quality of a regional road network. 3. A recently released government report, "Moving Ahead: The American Public Speaks on Roadways and Transportation in Communities", by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Federal Highway Administration, found significant public support for the use of more durable paving materials in the resurfacing of roads.79