AA chiefs have issued a fresh warning to UK drivers, after more than 50,000 cars suffered breakdowns last month for the exact same reason. Patrols attended a mind-blowing 52,541 pothole-related incidents in October 2023, the highest number on record.
This figure is a staggering 12 per cent rise compared to the same time last year, while the latest numbers were higher than the previous record which was set back in 2017. In total, more than half a million motorists across the UK suffered pothole-related breakdowns spanning 2023 - an average of 1,591 each day.
Tony Rich, who is the AA's public relations manager warned that motorists should take a number of simple precautions to avoid being caught out. He explained: "Continuous poor weather and storms such as Babet, Cairan and Debi are having a two-fold effect on driving conditions."
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The Express reports that he added: "What feels like relentless rainwater is covering and increasing the severity of potholes while holding back essential road repairs by rightly diverting road maintenance crews to tackle fallen trees and flooded areas. The £8.3billion Road Maintenance Fund will offer some respite for drivers, but with the first instalment not being made until April 2024, the funding can’t come soon enough.
"We are also pleased that councils will be encouraged to use the money to resurface streets rather than patch and run. Ensuring the structural integrity of the roads is key to road safety. Until then, our advice to drivers and those on two wheels is to avoid puddles where safe to do so, but if there is no alternative other than to travel through, then reduce your speed and keep an increased distance from the vehicle in front."
A recent survey from the AA of 11,678 drivers revealed that 96 per cent supported calls for increased investment in road repairs. Rishi Sunak recently announced that there will be a new roads funding package to improve journeys, with a £8.3million paypacket resurfacing over 5,000 miles of road using redirected HS2 cash.
Local authorities will receive £150million this financial year, with another £150million for 2024/2025. According to the Department for Transport, the rest of the cash will drip feed until the end of 2034. The North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber will benefit most with £3.3billion in funding.
During his announcement, the Prime Minister, said: "Well-maintained road surfaces could save drivers up to £440 each in expensive vehicle repairs, helping motorists keep more of the cash in their pocket. This unprecedented £8.3billion investment will pave the road for better and safer journeys for millions of people across the country and put an end to the blight of nuisance potholes."
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