Data from the RAC has revealed there were nearly 30,000 pothole-related breakdowns in 2023, an increase of 33% on the 2022 figure.
The total amount of pothole-related breakdowns hit 29,377 in 2023, with October to December resulting in 5,153 – the highest amount for that period since 2017.
Anyone setting off in their caravan tow car or who is planning to head to a caravan park open all year should look out for potholes on the road, as the RAC has warned the issue is likely to be exacerbated during the January to March period. This is due to water causing cracks to freeze and expand, subsequently leading to even more damage to the road surface.
While the data from the RAC Pothole Index highlights that the current state of Britain’s roads is far from the record of 3.5 in the first quarter of 2010, it still stands at 1.70 – an increase from the figure of 1.62 at the end of 2022. This means drivers are currently 1.7 times more likely to suffer pothole damage than they were 15 years ago.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Potholes are so much more than an irritation – they are a very serious danger to all road users which we fear will only get worse as the weather gets colder during these next few months.”
“Local councils have been cash-strapped for years due to lower road maintenance budgets, causing roads across the country to fall into disrepair and leaving drivers fighting for compensation when their vehicles are inevitably damaged. Fortunately, the Government has committed an extra £8.3bn of funding to local councils over the next 11 years, which we hope will give squeezed authorities some certainty of cash to help them plan consistent longer-term maintenance.”
The data from the RAC follows on from a study conducted by Ripe Insurance that found claims for caravan storm damage were seven times higher in 2023 compared to 2022.
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