Roads across the country set to see more potholes in the next few years

Most of the time, it sounds a lot worse than it is and your car makes it through okay.

However, there are more and more instances when cars are breaking down or suffering damage after hitting a pothole, often leaving motorists with a hefty repair bill or stranded on the side of the road.

According to RAC breakdown cover, there was a rise in pothole-related breakdowns attended by its staff from October to December in 2016.

During this time period, the breakdown service saw a 24 per cent increase in callouts for pothole-related incidents, such as damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.

This increase is the first of its kind over the last three years.

Research from RAC’s latest report on motoring found that the state and maintenance of roads was the top concern for motorists, and 51 per cent of the 1,755 drivers surveyed said they felt the roads in their area had worsened over the past 12 months, with potholes being a main culprit.

The new data was released on Monday, January 16, to coincide with National Pothole Day, and states that potholes are likely to appear at an “unprecedented rate”.

The government is currently ploughing millions of pounds into repairing potholes, giving councils Pothole Relief funds.

However, critics of the fund say that more money needs to be invested into the long-term infrastructure of the roads, rather than patching up problems.

David Bizley, the RAC’s chief engineer, said inclement weather often causes potholes and called for the government to invest more money into the roads.

Mr Bizley said: “This is a particularly worrying finding because of course much of the country has not experienced harsh winter conditions for three years, and rainfall in the fourth quarter of 2016 was the lowest in that period for more than a decade.

“Rain can be the catalyst for the formation of potholes, particularly in the winter when frosts are also common, but despite the low rainfall the number of pothole faults attended by the RAC from October to December 2016 is still higher than in the same period in the two previous years.

“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.

“While urgent remedial repairs will be needed to reduce the risk of further vehicle damage or injury to road users, including vulnerable motorcyclists and cyclists, it is insufficient investment in preventative maintenance, such as resurfacing, which is ultimately to blame.”

The Local Government Association has warned that the bill for repairing roads in England and Wales could reach £14billion within two years.

Statistics from the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) show the amount needed to repair roads rose from £9.8billion in 2012 to £11.8billion last year.

Alan Mackenzie, chairman of Asphalt Industry Alliance,also backed calls for the government to help our councils sort out the roads.

Mr Mackenzie said: “Potholes are a symptom of poorly-maintained roads and can have serious consequences for road users.

“But spending money on fixing them, although essential, is a shameful waste.

“To stop potholes forming in the first place, cash-strapped local authorities need sufficient funds to look after our road network properly.

“Long-term underfunding means that the local road network is deteriorating at a faster rate than it can be repaired.

“Recent announcements from the Department for Transport are a step in the right direction, but the fact remains that local roads continue to receive a fraction of the funding allocated to the strategic road network.”

In Somerset, the county council contracts Skanska to carry out highway maintenance works.

The firm is now in its fourth term with the council after first being employed in 1996.

The newest contract will be a seven-year contract commencing from April 1, 2017.

The new contract was officially signed on Wednesday, January 18.

According to Somerset County Council, the number of potholes requiring action has reduced from 27,479 in 2010 to 19,717 in 2016, thanks in part to the council’s road maintenance schedule.

As well as repairing potholes, the council has also embarked on a number of infrastructure schemes to resurface roads rather than filling in the cracks.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: “In Somerset we target our resources at preventative work like drainage schemes and resurfacing to stop potholes forming.

“As a direct result of this policy, the number of potholes requiring attention has fallen from 27,479 in 2010 to 19,717 in 2016.

“Our new highways maintenance contract which begins in April 2017 builds on this and includes a contractual commitment for a reduction in the number of potholes over the length of the contract.

“We will continue to fill any potholes which meet our intervention criteria.

“If you spot one, please report it via the Drive section at travelsomerset.co.uk so we can inspect and take appropriate action.”