The state of our roads is a disgrace and the cost to vehicles both private and commercial is astronomical. Is it time for the HSE to step in with Sec 3 HSWA and criminally prosecute a few Council top bods ?

I don’t think that many of us will disagree that there are some roads that could do with a little or more TLC. Those local authorities who are also highways authorities have finite budgets and if they spend more on x then they inevitably have less to spend on y & z. A number of things strike me: 1. The HSE aren’t in the business of prosecuting under S3 for damage to vehicles. 2. I don’t think a ‘top bod’ could themselves be prosecuted under S3, although they could be prosecuted under S37 if the Council were also prosecuted under S3 3. A prosecution under S3 resulting in a fine merely takes more (of your) money away from providing services including maintaining roads. As someone who has a little knowledge of the difficulties in LA funding it remains something of a conundrum and the solution remains elusive, but a prosecution of a ‘bod’ under S3 and/or a prosecution under S3 for vehicle damage, is IMVHO, not a solution (or I would suggest, possible).

It is a terrible state of affairs and I agree fining Councils will not help but Criminal prosecution of CEO s might. Govt not safely maintaining roads sets a very poor example to the Construction company that's is fined for not having soap in the latrines.

Not an answer, merely an observation. Perhaps at any single point in time there are more employees on the public highway, than there are in any other location?... Thus, you could say they are the largest (shared) workplace in the country?