Horsham Jim’s Mowing franchisee Paul Drendel was travelling to a job on Tuesday last week when he ran over an unrepaired road fault and snapped his trailer’s hitch draw bar.

“I was on the Wimmera Highway at Jung and I ran over a collapsed culvert,” he said.

“The trailer snapped and there were sparks flying down the road.

“I was outside the Puls’ farm and they came out and helped me get off the road safely. It was fantastic.”

The Puls brought out a forklift to move the trailer and later welded it back together.

“It could have been much worse,” Mr Drendel said.

“If I had been in most other areas I would have had to call a tow truck from Horsham.

“I only lost half a day and the Puls fixed the trailer so I am indebted to them. I’m grateful for that and they’ll have some free mowing coming their way.”

Mr Drendel said the state of roads had made it harder to operate a small business as vehicle breakdowns had cost him time and money.

“This is the second time I’ve had equipment damaged by road conditions,” he said.

Other businesses in Horsham have also seen increased maintenance costs to their truck and vehicle fleets because of unnecessary wear and tear from potholes and rough surfaces.

Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said drivers should contact VicRoads directly about faults or use her website or electorate offices to forward complaints.

“Coming through winter we are seeing a deterioration of the already poor state of our roads and it’s big concern as businesses and families are paying for it,” she said.

“The VicRoads direct complaints have been a new technique and there have been sections of road that have been repaired because of the reports made.

“Works on the Glenelg Highway and the the Wimmera Highway west of Horsham can be linked to those reports.”

Ms Kealy said that she and the National Party had been lobbying the state government to increase roads funding.