RAC patrols attended the highest number of what it calls ‘pothole breakdowns’ in five years during the last three months.
The motoring organisation said that between April and June 2023 its patrols went out to more than 8,100 breakdowns for damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs or distorted wheels – ‘the call-outs which are most likely caused by defective road surfaces’.
The RAC said it has attended a total of 18,250 such call-outs since the start of 2023.
It added that the 8,100 pothole-related breakdowns recorded in the second quarter of the year is the highest since the ‘Beast from the East’ cold snap in 2018.
The RAC said a Freedom of Information request had revealed that councils have paid out more than £11m over the last four years for pothole damage to vehicles.
Data provided by the 172 UK highway authorities (out of the 208) that responded showed that the compensation paid by these councils fell by a third (33%) between 2018/19 and 2021/22.
The amount that councils spent on routine maintenance rose by 17% from £237m to £277m between 2018/19 and 2021/22, while the amount spent on planned resurfacing went up by 9% from £851m to £928m over the same period.
The RAC’s head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, said that despite ‘perfect pothole-forming conditions …last winter wasn’t particularly harsh. which demonstrates very clearly just how fragile our local roads really are’.
He added: ‘While spending on our local roads appears to be heading in the right direction, councils are facing a toxic combination of higher material costs, higher contractor and labour costs and a cold and wet recent winter.
‘It may well be the case that even with more money being spent on the roads, much of this will be getting eaten up by inflationary pressures.’
Local Government Association transport spokesperson Cllr Linda Taylor said: ‘Councils would much prefer to invest in preventative measures rather than pay compensation or reactively fix potholes, which works out more expensive in the long term.
‘Despite the best efforts of councils, our local roads repair backlog is now the biggest it has ever been. Without any more additional funding, it is estimated that it would cost £14bn and take 11 years to clear.
‘Only by the Government providing councils with increased and long-term funding certainty can this growing problem be addressed and our roads bought up to scratch.’
