Motorists pay price for pothole plague

MOTORISTS are making a claim for compensation every 17 minutes for damage caused by potholes, a report reveals.

The number of claims rose by nearly 9 per cent last year to 31,483, according to the RAC.

Potholes can damage a vehicle’s suspension, tyres and wheel alignment.

But councils paid out in only about one in four cases – 26.9 per cent – over the last financial year. Although the typical claim was for £432, the average payout was just £306.

The council with the highest number of claims against it was Hampshire at 1,952, followed by Surrey with 1,412, Hertfordshire with 1,369 and Kent on 1,120. The Isles of Scilly was the only council to receive no claims.

The report said the Government’s assessment is that there is a road maintenance backlog of up to £8.6billion. But the latest annual survey of local authority highways departments, by the Asphalt Industry Alliance, puts the figure at £11.8billion.

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: ‘These figures are symptomatic of the inadequate funding available for local road maintenance … Drivers must try to keep one eye on rising pump prices and another on the potholes that can add hundreds to their annual motoring bills by causing damage to tyres and wheels.’

He added: ‘[Chancellor] Philip Hammond says he is keen to support targeted, value-for-money public investment. Providing the funds to fix our roads would be a great place to start and would show rapid results.’

Mr Hammond told the Tory conference: ‘Our stock of public infrastructure languishes near the bottom of the developed countries’ league table after decades of under-investment.’