SPOTLIGHT ON… THE PERILS OF POTHOLES

FIGURES HAVE REVEALED the RAC attended more than 10,000 pothole-related breakdowns in 2021 – the highest number for the past three years.

The RAC stats identified 10,123 breakdowns experienced last year, with problems including broken suspension springs, damaged shock absorbers and distorted wheels. The data shows this is 19% higher than 2020, when there were 8524 cases, and is also a 10% increase on the 2019 figure of 9198.

In fact, the growing problem can be seen by the rise in the percentage of call-outs that potholes represented. They made up 1.5% of the total number of RAC call-outs during the past year, the highest total seen since the four quarters up to the end of September 2018, which also stood at 1.5%.

An impression of the state of the UK’S roads is ascertained through the RAC Pothole Index. This is done by analysing the pothole-related breakdowns, along with the seasonal impact that the weather is having.

This stood at 1.48 at the end of September, but has now risen to 1.63. What this means for drivers is that the likelihood of breaking down after hitting a pothole has risen by over 1.5 times since the RAC began collecting data in 2006.

Rotten roads RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “The rot appears to have well and truly set in when it comes to the country’s roads, with our patrols going out to vast numbers of drivers who, through no fault of their own, are breaking down because of wear-and-tear caused by potholes.

“This is ridiculous because it is almost entirely avoidable if roads were maintained properly. With drivers contributing so much in terms of tax to the Government, the very least they deserve are roads that are fit for purpose.” Pete Byrne