Beckie Hamilton crashed her bicycle due to a pothole in Newbury, suffering injuries and fearing for her life.
She was cycling on a country road at 21 mph when she hit a large pothole directly. A car swerved to avoid her. The incident occurred in Newbury, Berkshire.
She suffered injuries from the fall, including pain in her ribs, finger, elbow, and knee. She thinks roads discourage cycling. Beckie is 55 years old.
She recalls scraping on the road as an oncoming car approached her fast, making her think she wouldn’t survive. Then she realized she was okay and able to move her body.
The driver stopped to help Beckie, and she told him she hit a pothole. Her husband drove her to the hospital. She was in shock after the crash and didn’t feel much pain at first, but later felt injuries on her right side.
Her injuries included rib pain, a possible fractured finger, and pain in her right elbow and knee. Thankfully, her head was safe because her helmet saved her life.
Beckie works as a firefighter regularly. She could not work for eight weeks due to severe rib pain. Nurses changed her dressings weekly.
She and her husband returned to the road and clearly saw the pothole surrounded by her blood. It was truly quite a big pothole.
After recovering, she worried about cycling. Eight weeks later, she cycled off-road with a few of her friends, which helped her feel confident again. Getting back on her bike relieved her.
Road conditions can scare cyclists away; Hamilton advises cyclists to be safe by wearing helmets, lights, and good clothing.
A recent report showed high car repair costs, with potholes causing £579m in damage, the highest amount ever recorded.
Beckie checked the council website and found the pothole had already been reported. She mostly cycles off-road now, as potholes and busy roads worry her. Potholes, she says, seem to be everywhere now.
West Berkshire Council uses new AI tech to help spot road problems quickly. Video surveys look for cracks and potholes. Temporary repairs fix immediate dangers, but weather or flooding can delay fixes. They aim for a ‘right first time’ repair.