Drivers in the UK are spending £4.09 billion each year for car repairs which are a result of potholes according to research. More than half of motorists said their cars have been damaged by potholes with an average bill coming to £230.
People in the North West and Glasgow are recorded to have the highest number of ruts per trip. 40% of UK drivers were frustrated by it that they claimed they would pay more car tax or road tolls for pothole free roads.
The Department of Transport announced they would spend £201 million on tackling maintenance and resurfacing 1,000 miles of road. According to Green Flag this is a short amount compared to the £9.76 billion needed to make UK roads into good conditions.
Green Flag’s Simon Henrick said: “The problem of potholes on UK roads means there is an increased risk of car damage,”
“With this in mind, it is important to stay safe when driving and to regularly check your vehicle and tyres for damage.”
According to the research, potholes topped the list of motorists’ irritations, with 66% of people claiming it was the most annoying feature of driving.
Potholes cause 1 in 10 mechanical failures on UK roads. Highways England found there were 528 successful claims for vehicle damage caused by potholes in 2017/18.
Potholes are most common in winter, January to February, prolonged freeze can make the pothole situation worse. Potholes will occur by water in the underlying soil structure and traffic passing over it. Traffic will break (create a pothole) the road if there is water in the soil as it will be weak.
