Pothole related problems are on the rise says the RAC.
The latest statistics come as local authorities are struggling to keep up with road repairs as budgets are squeezed in the current economic crisis.
Inflations, soaring fuel costs, and increasing pressure on finances to support vulnerable members of communities struggling to afford food, fuel and housing bills.

Holey moley

RAC patrols attended nearly a quarter (23%) more breakdowns where potholes were the likely cause during the last three months of 2022 compared to the previous three months. The stats were released as part of National Pothole Day.

Roadside staff went out to an average of 20 breakdowns a day between October and the end of the year. Totalling more than 1,800, faults included damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.

This was a rise of 16 a day over the previous three months (1,462 in total). It was the highest number of pothole-related breakdowns seen in the fourth quarter of the year since 2019.

Winter woes

The worry is that it represents just the beginning of what could prove to be a long hard winter on the roads. Considering the high amounts of rain in recent days along with forecasts for freezing conditions. the outlook is poor.

These are the perfect conditions for creating potholes; water makes its way into cracks which then expand when it freezes, causing the road surface to crumble.

Research for the RAC’s latest Report on Motoring found that an enormous 86% of drivers have had to deliberately steer to avoid potholes over the past year. This figure rises to 90% of those in rural areas, but only falls to 81% of those in urban locations. This rep[resents not just a problem for vehicle maintenance, it represents and serious road safety issue too.

Most drivers (55%) rated pothole repairs in their local areas as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’.

Still no sign of a solution

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes says it’s been “the coldest start to winter in 12 years”. Along with heavy rain before and after, he believe sits  “the perfect recipe for potholes to start peppering the roads”.

The ‘fear’ is that with a lack of urgent repairs being undertaken, the Spring could prove a very problematic for drivers.

“They are a true road safety danger, especially for those on two wheels as they represent a huge risk to their personal safety.

“As many drivers will no doubt testify, there are too many occasions where potholes have been poorly patched up by cash-strapped councils which then return all too quickly.

He describes the ‘age old problem’ as “frankly absurd”.

“Roads play such an important role in people’s everyday lives – and are vital to moving goods and businesses delivering services.

“Councils are crying out for more funding to do a proper job in getting their roads up to a decent standard.

Drivers have repeatedly rated the poor state of the roads as  “one of their biggest motoring frustrations”. He adds that we “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”.