The dire state of England’s roads was laid bare last night by figures on pothole-related breakdowns.
Between July and September, the RAC attended 1,810 car failures caused by potholes – the highest third quarter for 15 years.
Even though traffic levels were lower than pre-pandemic levels during most of the year, this is still a significant achievement.
A RAC survey showed that poor road conditions were a top concern for 46% more motorists than 38 percent last year.
Problems included broken shock absorbers, bent wheels, and discolored suspension springs.
Because pothole repairs are done in spring and summer, the second half year can be quiet.
According to the RAC’s Pothole Index, drivers are nearly 1.5 times more likely to break down after hitting a pothole today than they were when it first started collecting the data in 2006.
An RAC survey revealed that poor road conditions were a top concern for 46% more motorists than 38 percent last year.
58% of drivers think that local roads conditions have worsened in the last year, compared to 52 percent in 2020.
Between July and September, the RAC attended 1,810 car failures caused by potholes – the highest third quarter for 15 years
RAC’s head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: ‘With Government data showing weekday car traffic is still not quite back to pre-pandemic levels, it’s very worrying that our patrols are still attending a higher proportion of pothole-related call-outs in relation to all the breakdowns they go out to’.
He said the findings suggested ‘little progress has been made in the last 12 months in improving road surfaces for drivers’.
He added: ‘Traditionally, the spring and summer months give authorities a chance to repair and improve roads, but unfortunately it seems many roads remain in a perilous state.’
The Department for Transport earlier this month said up to 50 per cent of local, or ‘unclassified’, roads were cracked and pothole-ridden in some areas of the country. This road accounts for 60 percent of the roads in Britain.
In last month’s Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced £8billion for filling millions of potholes, resurfacing roads, repairing bridges and upgrading key A roads.