Breakdowns caused by potholes double

POTHOLE-RELATED breakdowns have doubled in the space of three months after the harsh winter, the RAC has revealed.

The breakdown rescue firm said the proportion of call outs caused by issues such as damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels reached 2.3 per cent between January and March.

This is almost double the rate during the previous three months and equates to 5,540 cases. Since RAC records began in 2006, only two three-month periods – January to March in both 2015 and 2017 – saw a higher proportion of breakdowns related to potholes. David Bizley, the RAC’S chief engineer, said the true state of the UK’S roads was expected to be revealed in the figures for April to June, because snow and freezing weather had come towards the end of the previous quarter.

He said: “For this reason, we feel we are likely to see more vehicles suffering pothole damage in the second quarter of 2018, compared with recent years.

A Local Government Association spokesman said: “When exceptional weather occurs, the impact on local roads can be significant.

“It’s essential this is measured and that funds are provided for serious repairs so that traffic can move freely through our communities, and local economies and businesses aren’t impacted.”