Potholes blamed for car breakdown increase
NEARLY 3000 RAC members’ cars suffered breakdowns that could have been caused by potholes between October and December 2017, according to the breakdown service provider. That’s an increase of almost 12% compared with the same three months in 2016.
The RAC believes the rise suggests the surface quality of our roads has been affected by last year’s higher rainfall and more frequent frosty conditions.
The damage suffered by cars included broken shock absorbers and distorted wheels. Furthermore, RAC data suggests that the situation is getting worse, with roads deteriorating since March 2017.
“Potholes are a menace for road users.they represent a road safety risk and a potentially costly one,” said RAC chief engineer David Bizley.
The news follows the Local Government Association’s criticism of the disparity in funding between local and national roads.
The Government recently announced plans to spend £1.1 million per mile on motorways and major A-roads between now and 2020. It provides local authorities with only £21,000 per mile to repair local roads; councils have to fund the rest. That means motorways and A-roads will get 52 times more funding than other roads.