Image: RAC
The RAC dealt with 4,091 pothole-related breakdowns between April and June – the highest Q2 figure since 2015.
The figure includes breakdowns ‘likely to be attributed to damage caused by potholes and poor quality road surfaces’ – such as damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs or distorted wheels.
The Q2 2018 figure represents 1.8% of all breakdowns by the RAC members – up from 1.6% in Q2 2017.
The figure is however down 26% on Q1 2018 – when 5,540 pothole-related breakdowns were attributed to the harsh winter weather.
The RAC also says its Pothole Index – which is based on a quarterly rolling analysis of pothole-related breakdowns – shows a worsening picture in the second quarter of 2018.
The index, which began at a base of 1.00 in 2006 when the RAC started recording data, moved upwards from 2.63 in Q1 of this year to 2.67, marking five successive quarters of deterioration. It does, however, remain ‘considerably lower’ than its peak of 3.5 which occurred in the first three months of 2010.
David Bizley, RAC chief engineer, said: “We had obviously hoped the number of pothole-related breakdowns attended by our patrols would drop in the second quarter as the first three months of the year had seen the third highest first-quarter figure recorded since 2006.
“However, given the extreme weather towards the end of Q1, we perhaps should not be that surprised the Q2 figures are worse than normal.
“While the percentage of these call-outs did drop in the second quarter of 2018, it did not reduce by as much as normally happens in this period as local authorities catch up with repairing the winter damage to our roads.
“From a driver’s point of view this can only mean that our roads are still in a poor state of repair after the damage caused by ‘The Beast from the East’ and the generally harsh late winter conditions the country experienced.”
At the present rate of funding, 10 years is an optimistic timescale. Little or no improvement in the multi-million £££ backlog in most councils and with some the backlog is getting worse not better.
Pat, Wales
+2
We had a main road resurfaced last year. The surface has just deteriorated over the last 4 months, just bad workmanship. Reported it to highways, council and councillor. Nothing done, the contractor should have been made to resurface it but no they just put the white lines on the worn out road.
Delaney, PRESTON
+1
Pot holes are with us and its going to be a problem for a few years to come as Councils endeavour to fill them in as quickly as is possible. Its my understanding that it may be 10 years or so before we get the roads that a First World Country should have.
M.Worthington
+3
It would be useful if analysis could identify if there was a predominance of vehicles with low-profile tyres being affected by potholes. Low-profile may be great for looks or flat out (rather than flat tyre) performance but may not be suitable for real world road conditions.
Rod King, Lymm, Cheshire
+7