Whatever you think you pay to operate a vehicle, add another $126 says CAA. That is the average extra cost to every Canadian for poor road conditions, and overall, that amounts to $3 billion a year.
"Today, we have released the Poor Roads Study, which set about to look at exactly how much roads costs us – as part of our Worst Roads campaign," says
Julie Beun, Director of Public Relations.
Read the full report here.
The extra expense adds up to more than $1,250 over the 10-year lifespan of the average car.
See: Summer roadwork. Did your street make the list?
And: Any local nominations? CAA's Worst Roads returns
The CAA says 43 per cent of Canadian roads are rated below average; this study calculates how much more drivers pay in maintenance and other costs when they drive on poor roads versus those rated average or above.
Québec reported the highest percentage of below-average roads and had the highest cost per driver at $258 in added maintenance and other costs.
Here in Ontario, we're actually much better off with an average cost of $88 per vehicle annually, but roads in northern Ontario likely take a higher toll. BC, Alberta and New Brunswick were lower.
Roads deteriorate over time due to age, weather conditions, heavy traffic, and inadequate maintenance.
In cold climates such as Canada, freeze-thaw cycles play a large role in creating potholes – a problem that is particularly acute where temperatures regularly fluctuate above and below the freezing point. As moisture from rain or snow seeps through cracks and openings in the pavement, it freezes and expands, causing the pavement to heave upward. Then as temperatures rise, the ground underneath the pavement returns to its normal level, leaving a cavity that breaks apart as vehicles drive over the deformed pavement.
CAA’s Worst Roads campaign is now active. Vote at www.caaworstroads.com until April 18 for a chance to win free gas for a year.
A week into the 17th annual Worst Roads campaign, the votes are pouring in, despite people spending 41 minutes per day less on their commutes. Response has already surpassed the total number of votes for 2019 in one week.
This study is the first in Canada to show the cost to vehicle owners of poor roads, rather than focusing on how much it costs to build or repair them.
A vehicle is the second-largest expense for the average household
