Car breakdowns due to potholes have reached an alarming 50% already this year, raising concerns about the deteriorating state of UK roads. According to data collected by the RAC, the number of pothole-related breakdowns has nearly doubled since 2006, when the company first began tracking this issue.
During the first three months of 2024, drivers endured 7,904 pothole breakdowns, representing a 9% increase over the same period in the previous year. The RAC believes that the milder weather conditions in recent months may have temporarily reduced the formation of new potholes, limiting the number of breakdowns.
However, experts warn that the underlying problem of crumbling road surfaces remains severe. The RAC’s Pothole Index, which measures the likelihood of suffering a pothole-related breakdown, has increased, indicating that drivers are more likely to experience damage now than they were 12 months ago.
The RAC attributes the poor road conditions to years of declining maintenance budgets and inadequate funding for road repairs. Despite the government allocating additional funds for road maintenance, the RAC estimates that this is only sufficient to resurface 3% of England’s local roads.
The increase in pothole-related breakdowns has significant implications for drivers, leading to inconvenience, vehicle damage, and increased repair costs. The RAC urges drivers to remain vigilant and report any road defects they encounter to the relevant authorities to address the ongoing issue of pothole-riddled roads.
