Pothole crisis to hit 'unprecedented levels' warns RAC

The RAC has recorded a 24 per cent rise in pothole-related breakdowns compared to this time last year — and warns that things are only going to get worse.

The firm said the problem could hit an unprecedented high over the next few months.

The surge was measured between October and December and compared with data from 2015. It is the first annual increase for the last quarter of a year since 2013.

Worryingly, the surge was recorded despite rainfall for the period being at the lowest for more than a decade.

RAC chief engineer David Bizley said: “If the first three months of 2017 prove to be both wet and cold, potholes are likely to appear at an unprecedented rate which would inevitably stretch local authority repair resources to their limit.”

He added that “urgent remedial repairs” are needed to reduce the risk of further damage and injuries.

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The incidents the RAC recorded included broken suspension springs, damaged shock absorbers and distorted wheels.

Potholes are particularly dangerous to cyclists — more than 1,000 people are injured by falls caused by potholes every year.

“It is insufficient investment in preventative maintenance, such as resurfacing, which is ultimately to blame,” said Bizley.

A survey of almost 18,000 motorists commissioned by the AA found little faith in councils to solve the problem.

Twenty per cent said they would volunteer to fill a pothole themselves rather than wait for a local authority.

AA president Edmund King said: “The state of local roads has got so bad that we now have a sea of volunteers to tackle an ocean of potholes.

“If we are ever going to get a handle on the situation, the Government must give authorities the tools they need to fill potholes. Otherwise councils will simply pass the shovels on to ratepayers.”

Potholes are usually caused by water getting underneath the road and then freezing and expanding, before melting away.