Increase in pothole-related breakdowns reported

Date: Monday, January 16, 2023 | Author: Sean Keywood

RAC patrols attended 23% more breakdowns where potholes were likely to blame in the last three months of 2022 compared with the previous three months, the motoring organisation has said.

It said the total of more than 1,800 call-outs for issues such as damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs, and distorted wheels was the highest seen in a fourth quarter since 2019.

It added that there was a risk of even greater numbers of potholes now appearing in the next few months, due to high levels of rainfall either side of December’s sub-zero temperatures.

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “We fear that by the Spring, drivers will be plagued by a plethora of potholes across the country’s roads which makes journeys uncomfortable and frustrating or, worse still, could lead to very expensive garage repair bills – the last thing anyone wants in a cost-of-living crisis.

“It’s also important to remember that potholes are so much more than just an annoyance, they are a true road safety danger, especially for those on two wheels as they represent a huge risk to their personal safety.

“Councils are crying out for more funding to do a proper job in getting their roads up to a decent standard. With drivers still rating the ongoing poor state of the roads as one of their biggest motoring frustrations, they can only hope that 2023 is the year when the Government finally sits up, takes notice of Britain’s perpetual problem with potholes and comes up with a better way to solve it.”

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