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Potholes are causing havoc on Britain’s roads

The number of pothole-related breakdowns attended by the RAC increased by 11% in the last three months of 2017, according to the breakdown service provider. The BBC has been requesting its viewers, listeners and website visitors’ pothole stories in the wake of the news, with roads all over the UK being highlighted for their “archipelago of potholes”, “surface of the moon” appearance and ability to damage cars, motorbikes and bicycles.

In 2014, the Government announced a £6billion fund to help tackle over 18 million potholes across the country. The money is being spent between 2015 and 2021, at a rate of £976million a year, but crater-sized potholes are still causing havoc on the roads. The RAC blamed snow and icy conditions for the recent spate of tyre bursting, alloy denting and suspension wrenching breakdowns.

Potholes causing “serious road safety risk”

The RAC announced a total 2,830 individual member breakdowns between October and December 2017 due to damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs or distorted wheels, likely caused by poor road surfaces. This is up from 2,547 in the same quarter for 2016.

“Put simply, potholes are a menace for drivers and indeed for all road users,” said RAC chief engineer David Bizley. “They represent a serious road safety risk and anyone who has driven into one will know it can be a frightening experience, not to say a potentially costly one. Distorted wheels, broken springs and shock absorbers can be very expensive problems to put right.”

How costly is pothole damage to motorists?

Drivers can face a bill of hundreds or even thousands of pounds if they hit a pothole. In 2016, the AA said Britain’s 6.3 million drivers were shelling out almost £684million between them to repair pothole damage to their cars, reported The Telegraph. While this damage is hitting road users’ pockets hard, the government is also paying out compensation, to the tune of almost £500,000 in Northern Ireland alone.

Some potholes can cause major damage but burst tyres, minor dents and scratches are also a nuisance for many drivers. As technology advances, inevitably so do prices, and repairing damage after hitting a pothole can be costly.

But there are financial protection products available to these drivers, which is where Car Care Plan can help. Motorists can safeguard their vehicles with Tyre and Alloy Insurance, which provides accidental damage and puncture cover on all car tyres, including the spare and run-flats. It also covers the cost of replacement and includes fitting so next time a motorist hits a pothole, they can rest assured that won’t have to worry about the cost of repairs.

Learn more about the benefits of selling tyre and alloy insurance in our blog.