Britain’s pothole page takes even more of a toll on drivers

London: The pothole situation in Britain is getting worse. In 2024, the RAC had to help thousands of drivers dealing with pothole-related issues. It’s estimated that there are over a million potholes across the UK, and they’re a major reason for car breakdowns.

The government has set aside £5 billion to fix these roads by 2025, but it seems like a drop in the bucket. The RAC’s Pothole Index shows just how bad things are. On average, there are about six potholes for every mile of council-controlled roads in England and Wales.

In a recent survey, councils reported over half a million potholes in just one year. And that’s only counting the ones that were reported! The real number is likely much higher, especially since the data didn’t include Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

Between 2022 and 2023, they filled in 1.4 million potholes, but that’s down from 1.7 million the year before. It’s clear that the problem isn’t going away anytime soon.

In the last quarter of 2024, breakdowns due to potholes jumped by 17%. The RAC helped nearly 4,700 drivers with issues like damaged shock absorbers and broken suspension springs. That’s a lot of people dealing with car troubles because of bad roads.

Interestingly, even with milder weather, the number of breakdowns still went up. Drivers are facing a tough time, especially with the recent cold snap causing more potholes to form. If you hit one, be prepared to shell out around £460 for repairs, which is a lot more than what councils typically pay out for claims.

RAC spokesperson Alice Simpson emphasized that the state of the roads is a huge concern for drivers. She urged local authorities to take action and fix the worst roads before things get even worse. The government’s recent funding could help, but it’s going to take more than just money to solve this ongoing issue.