Drivers are now more than TWICE as likely to breakdown than they were 12 years ago because of damage caused by potholes
Brits are now more than twice as likely to suffer serious damage to their car as a direct result of hitting a pothole than they were in 2006, according to the RAC's Pothole Index
THE UK's pothole problem appears only to be getting worse, according to new figures.
Data analysed by the RAC revealed drivers are more than twice as likely to breakdown due to hitting a pothole than they were 12 years ago.
Over the last year, the RAC dealt with 14,220 breakdowns where the most likely cause was poor road condition, including cars with damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.
These type of issues made up 1.5 percent of all call-outs in the 12 months up to September this year - the second highest percentage since 2006.
RAC uses a Pothole Index to measure the long-term health of the UK's roads.
The Index is a 12-month rolling measure of the number of pothole fault breakdowns compared to 2006, corrected for seasonal weather impacts and improving vehicle reliability.
It currently stands at 2.63, meaning drivers are more than 2.5 times as likely to suffer a pothole breakdown than they were in 2006.
A recent RAC survey found that the state of local roads is now the top overall concern for British motorists, up from 33 per cent in 2017 to 42 per cent in 2018.
And some two-thirds of those polled felt the condition of local roads had deteriorated in the past 12 months.
One in five local roads in England and Wales is in a poor condition and the frequency of road resurfacing has declined, according to The Asphalt Industry Alliance.
HOW TO CLAIM FOR POTHOLE DAMAGE
Pothole damage costs UK motorists almost £1billion a year - but you might not always have to foot the bill.
Compensation from the council or Highways England is possible although it's not straightforward.
First, you should ensure you take notes and photos at the scene and record the exact damage plus the size and shape of the pothole along with any contact details of witnesses.
You'll most likely need to get the damage repaired immediately but if you can, ring around for several quotes so you can provide evidence during a claim that you've searched for the best price.
You should also flag up the pothole via the .
Then, to submit your claim, write a letter to the council or Highways England (if it's an A-road or motorway) outlining where the damage was caused, the extent of it and that you're holding them liable.
You'll get a response, often within a couple of weeks and likely a refusal to pay under Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980 - a one-size-fits-all defence that says all reasonable steps to maintain the road were taken, and all potholes were dealt with in a timely manner.
Once this happens, you'll need to determine if the council has fulfilled the Section 58 obligations by asking questions about the scheduling and quality of inspections and repairs on the road.
If you believe you have a case write again outlining your findings. The council will either pay up or leave you with the choice of going to small claims court.
Small claims court is fairly cheap and easy but you need to decide if it'll really offset the cost of the repairs and time invested.
David Bizley, RAC chief engineer, said: “There is little doubt local road conditions in many parts of the country are substandard and have been so for quite some time.
"Data from this quarter’s RAC Pothole Index supports this showing there has been a steady deterioration in road condition over the last 18 months with the latest quarter not showing a significant improvement.
“The Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) found that around 20 per cent of local roads are in ‘poor structural condition’, which means they have five years of life or less remaining.
“In March 2018 a further £100m was made available to help local authorities repair potholes and storm damage that had resulted from the harsh winter weather.
“However, this needs to be seen in the context of the maintenance backlog of over £9.3billion reported by the AIA which is their estimate of the one-off investment required to return local roads to a state that is fit-for purpose."
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "We are already providing councils in England with over £6billion to help improve the condition of our local highways.
"This funding includes a record £296 million through the Pothole Action Fund - enough to fix around six million potholes.
"While it is for councils to identify where repairs should be undertaken, we are looking at how innovative technology can help them keep their roads in the best condition and save money."
your guide to car maintenance
Recently we revealed the worst roads for potholes in England.
Oldham Road in Manchester was the most complained about stretch of highway due to its crumbling condition.
An estimated 24,000 miles of roads around the UK are affected by potholes, causing damage to millions of cars each year.