Pothole breakdowns hit five-year excessive
W
et climate in July prompted the variety of pothole-related breakdowns to leap by almost a fifth to a five-year excessive, new figures counsel.
The AA stated it obtained 50,079 callouts to automobiles stranded as a result of faults doubtless attributable to potholes final month.
That is up from 41,790 in July 2022 and is essentially the most for that month since 2018.
Common issues attributable to potholes embody broken shock absorbers, damaged suspension springs and distorted wheels.
Met Office figures counsel final month was the UK’s sixth wettest July on document.
This would have made potholes tougher to identify for drivers and hindered restore work, in response to the AA.
Jack Cousens, head of roads coverage on the AA, stated: “July’s rainfall caused more headaches for drivers with tyres, suspensions and steering mechanisms all being damaged as the rain and puddles hid the potholes lurking underneath.
“Councils would’ve been hoping for a dry summer so they could get as much repair work carried out before the real autumn and winter weather hits.
“They will now be under more pressure to get their planned works completed before the weather really turns against them.
“With 2023 looking to be one of the worst years on record for pothole damage, we need to see more investment in local roads maintenance funding.
“As well as the financial damage to vehicles, at this time of year we also see more cyclists and motorbike riders on the roads, where the damage can sadly be fatal.”
The value of bringing pothole-plagued native roads in England and Wales as much as scratch has been estimated at £14 billion.
The Government elevated its Potholes Fund – which supplies cash to councils in England to deal with the problem – by £200 million to £700 million for the present monetary yr.
Shaun Davies, who chairs the Local Government Association, stated: “Decades of reductions in funding from central government to local road repair budgets has left councils facing the biggest ever annual pothole repair backlog.
“In order to support motorists, the Government should take this opportunity to work with councils to develop a long-term, fully-funded programme to catch up with the backlog.”
A Department for Transport spokesman stated: “It’s for local authorities to maintain their highways.
“To help them do that we’re investing more than £5 billion from 2020 to 2025, with an extra £200 million announced at the Budget in March to resurface roads up and down the country.
“We’ve also brought in new rules to clamp down on utility companies leaving potholes behind after carrying out street works.”